AIMTC seeks financial help for oxygen tanker drivers

The All India Motors Transport Congress (AIMTC) also urged the government to allow free mobility along with the provision of food and water for oxygen tanker drivers

Mumbai: Transporters’ body AIMTC has sought financial help for the oxygen tanker transporters to meet the treatment cost of the drivers affected by the coronavirus, either by the government or oxygen manufacturers, according to a statement.

The All India Motors Transport Congress (AIMTC) also urged the government to allow free mobility along with the provision of food and water for oxygen tanker drivers on RO-RO (Tankers on Rail and Air), AIMTC Core Committee Chairman Bal Malkit Singh said in a statement issued in the late Saturday evening.

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“During the last lockdown, immunity of the truck drivers was not affected. However, since this time drivers are going into the rural parts of the country, some of them are testing positive every day.

“The transporters are spending Rs 3-3.5 lakh on the treatment of each driver in case he is tested positive for COVID-19,” said Singh.

The government should allow free mobility along with the provision of food and water for oxygen tanker drivers on RO-RO (Tankers on Rail and Air). Fixed cost should be paid to the transporters on a per-kilometer-running-per-month basis (as in normal times) in consultation with the stakeholders, Singh said in the statement.

There is a need for timely payment, rewards, incentives, and financial help to the transporters engaged in the oxygen supply chain by the manufacturers, he said.

Other issues such as the need to address the fear factor among the drivers by conducting periodic counselling sessions, priority vaccination of the drivers, and COVID-19 insurance cover for them, among others, were also raised at the meeting, AIMTC said.

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