Hyderabad: Several transport associations across the country, including Telangana, have urged the government to provide health insurance coverage to drivers and workers, who are risking their lives transporting passengers and essential goods in the testing times of Covid-19.
The associations argue that drivers, cleaners and owners of nearly 5 lakh goods vehicles and 2 lakh cab drivers face the threat of getting infected while on duty. “We request the government to consider the plight of the transport workers and provide health insurance coverage for drivers and cleaners who are at a very high risk of contracting the virus while performing their duty,” said Manchireddy Rajender Reddy, working president of Telangana Lorry Owners’ Association.
Owners and drivers of nearly 5 lakh goods vehicles, have also announced that they will go on strike in the first week of September to demand health insurance cover for all those who work in the transport sector. The truck drivers’ associations have also written to minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari under the phrase ‘Driver’s Life matters’.
On the other hand, Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has also urged the central government to direct the cab aggregators to provide health insurance coverage to all its employees. “The safety of drivers/delivery partners should be of utmost importance. We are hopeful that the transport minister will soon respond to our concern,” said IFAT national general secretary Shaik Salauddin.