Auto-rickshaw drivers reel under crisis due to Mahalaxmi scheme

Auto-rickshaw Drivers State JAC chairman G Mukesh Goud marked World Auto-rickshaw Day by criticising the Mahalaxmi scheme. He said the scheme caused financial hardship to drivers, with 80 dying by suicide. He sought Rs 12,000 monthly aid and housing benefits.

Mancherial: World Auto-rickshaw Day was observed on Friday, with Auto-rickshaw Drivers State JAC chairman G Mukesh Goud cutting a cake to mark the occasion.

Mukesh said many youngsters and even graduates and professionals were left with no option but to ride auto-rickshaws to earn a livelihood. He opined that the Mahalaxmi scheme threw the lives of drivers out of gear by affecting their occupation. He cited that 80 drivers had died by suicide, depressed due to the financial crisis since the scheme was introduced.

---

The chairman regretted that neither ministers nor legislators had shown concern over the deaths of the drivers so far. He demanded that the State government create a corporation by allocating Rs 1,000 crore for the welfare of drivers. He also demanded monthly financial aid of Rs 12,000 to drivers and 50 percent of houses under the Indiramma Housing scheme be allotted to them.

He, along with other dignitaries at the event, felicitated 120 senior drivers with shawls. Leaders Bellamkonda Muralidhar, Potta Madhukar, Katta Ramkumar, Kaluvala Anjaiah, Moyya Rambabu, Sampath Kumar, MD Shafi, Srinivas and others were present.