Though Andhra Pradesh is the first State to introduce Rs.5 lakh insurance for truck, auto, mini-lorry and other vehicle drivers in the country on May Day, the idea of introducing this scheme has come from a man who has been running an NGO in Rajahmundry from 2011.
He is a Central government employee and rendering social service in free time. He got ‘Srama Sakthi’ award for second time from the State government.
Kesavabhatla Srinivasa Rao, chairman of Kesavabhatla Charitable Trust (KCT), thought of introducing insurance scheme for auto drivers in Rajahmundry City.
Proximity with auto drivers and their family inspired Mr. Srinivas, working as Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector in South Central Railway at Rajahmundry, to introduce the scheme.
“When I saw the plight of three daughters and wife of an auto driver who died in accident in 2011, I decided to take up insurance scheme for auto drivers,” said Mr. Srinivas.
Accordingly, his Trust took up the cause and signed an MoU with the New India Insurance Company to provide insurance for 3,500 auto drivers annually on May Day. The KCT had done about 14,000 insurances for auto drivers in and around Rajahmundry for Rs.1 lakh coverage and premium will be paid by the KCT every year on behalf of drivers.
“In 2013 we took up insurance for construction workers on a daily wage and about 1,500 workers were insured.
However, the workers are mostly migrants and they did not turn up next year. So, we discontinued insurance for them and continued for auto drivers,” Mr. Srinivas said.
Last year the KCT distributed khaki shirts to 500 auto drivers on May Day.
When I saw the plight of three daughters and wife of an auto driver who died in accident in 2011, I decided to take up insurance scheme for auto drivers
Kesavabhatla Srinivasa Rao,Chairman, KCT
