KTR demands immediate formation of welfare board for auto drivers

BRS working president KT Rama Rao demanded immediate formation of a welfare board for auto drivers in Telangana. He highlighted pending payments, discontinued insurance schemes, and economic distress, urging the Congress government to act and support the 8 to 8.5 lakh drivers

Rajanna-Sircilla: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday demanded that the Congress government immediately establish a welfare board for autorickshaw drivers in Telangana. He reminded the public that the Congress party had promised several welfare schemes for auto drivers before the elections, including annual assistance of Rs 12,000 and insurance coverage.

“Even after so many months, not a single driver has received any support,” he said, stating that the Congress government was betraying the community. Citing Andhra Pradesh as an example, where such benefits were being delivered, he criticised the Telangana government for failing to provide any aid. He further revealed that each driver was now owed Rs 24,000 in pending payments.

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He was speaking after visiting Nampally Satish, an auto driver from Adavipadira village who attempted suicide due to financial distress. Satish, currently undergoing treatment at Ashwini Hospital in Yellareddypet, consumed poison after being unable to support his family. Rama Rao consoled the family and offered Rs 25,000 in personal financial assistance.

Condemning the State government’s silence despite being provided with details of over 93 auto drivers who died due to economic hardship, he asked why the government had not yet responded. “Is the death of 93 drivers not enough for them to act? How many more lives must be lost?” he asked, also criticising the Congress government for discontinuing the accident insurance scheme introduced during the previous BRS administration.

“Because of this, nearly 8 to 8.5 lakh drivers are now left without any insurance coverage,” he said, demanding transparency from the Congress government, which borrowed over Rs 2.3 lakh crore but failed to build a single project, lay new roads, or implement new welfare schemes, including the six major guarantees. Assuring auto drivers that the BRS would stand with every struggling auto driver, he urged auto unions and drivers to come together to force the Congress government to fulfil its promises.