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A country-wide strike call in protest against the new Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 may hit bus, auto and goods traffic on April 30.
The strike call, by various unions and federations in the public and private sector, is in protest against the new Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014, which is slated to replace the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. It is being backed by central unions cutting across political affiliations, such as the Left-backed CITU, AITUC, LPF, AICCTU, NLO, Congress-backed INTUC, BJP-backed BMS and HMS.
According to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Bill aims to ensure transparency, reduce road accidents and fatalities, boost economic growth and create 10 lakh jobs.
However, unions fear that the Bill will pave the way for “corporatisation” of both passenger and good transport segment. They are also opposing the hefty fines proposed that may end up sending “all drivers to jail.”
In an earlier statement, KK Divakaran, general secretary, All India Road Transport Workers Federation, said the Bill will lead to “dismantling” of the 54 state road transport corporations in India, jeopardising the jobs of 7.5 lakh workers. The proposals for hefty fines in the Bill, lifted from western models, do not “take into consideration the road condition, infrastructure and awareness of the people of India on traffic rules and road safety,” said a union source.
Some State governments, such as Tamil Nadu, have already aired reservations about some proposals in the Bill that are being seen as an “infringement” on the powers of the State. The State government has reportedly also pointed out to the Centre that while certain amendments can be made, there is no expediency to repeal the Motor Vehicles Act.
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