GUWAHATI: The All Assam Cab Operators' Association has urged the Assam government to initiate a special welfare scheme for Ola and Uber drivers.
The Association met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and submitted a memorandum stating their issues, the foremost being, reduction in the company's commission from the cab fares.
They stated that drivers are struggling with their daily livelihood because after an exorbitant deduction of up to 40 percent per ride fare, each driver hardly makes only Rs 500 to Rs 600 per day, which is only marginally higher than that of wage labourers.
President of the All Assam Cab Operators' Association Bishnu Das told G Plus, "There are about 15,000 drivers associated with Ola and Uber, and almost all are well educated. But they hardly get more than the wage labourers".
The Association also highlighted that the high taxes of documents of taxi vehicles by the Assam government have also affected their merger earnings amidst the pandemic. They further said that despite their low income, they are not included in any government schemes like for those below the poverty line (BPL).
"We are left without benefit from all sides. Our earnings are taken away by the company and the Government has also not offered us any financial help," Das said.
Hence, the All Assam Cab Operators' Association has urged Chief Minister Sarma to either formulate a separate welfare scheme for the drivers or include them in the several existing schemes.