Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on September 4 launched the Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb Passenger Transport Driver-Owner Welfare Board in Thane. The new board will provide social security and financial support to auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra.
Speaking at the event, Shinde praised auto and taxi drivers for their important role during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said drivers risked their lives to take patients to hospitals when many people were afraid to go outside. He also praised women who worked with ‘Pink Rickshaws’ and helped people during the difficult period.
One of the main benefits announced by Shinde is a Rs 10,000 retirement honorarium for driver-owners who are 65 years old or above. He said the money had already been deposited into the bank accounts of about 735 eligible beneficiaries who had submitted their bank details. The remaining beneficiaries will receive the money in phases.
Shinde said the Rs 10,000 payment is a way of recognising the years of service provided by auto and taxi drivers.The welfare board will provide several other benefits. These include life and disability insurance for drivers while on duty, health assistance and financial help for injuries suffered during work.
The board will also support the education of drivers’ children. Students who score 75 per cent in Class 10 will receive Rs 5,000, while students in Class 12 will receive Rs 7,000. Financial assistance will also be available for students pursuing degree courses.Shinde said the welfare board would help drivers and their families with education, healthcare and financial security.
During the programme, Shinde paid tribute to Anand Dighe Saheb, whom he described as a leader who always worked for ordinary people. He also remembered Balasaheb Thackeray.Shinde said the welfare board had grown much more than he had originally expected. He also mentioned that Rs 50 crore in seed capital was available for different corporations working for farmers, youth, women, senior citizens and workers.
Talking about his time as Chief Minister, Shinde said his government had introduced around 300 schemes. He said his government had removed administrative problems and restarted several delayed projects, including the Mumbai-Sawantwadi train project. He also spoke about speeding up work on the bullet train project.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the government removed restrictions on festivals such as Govinda. Shinde said the festival later received a new identity through Pro-Govinda.He also mentioned the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and the government’s decision to give Rs 20,000 to Warkari procession groups travelling to Pandharpur.
Shinde also spoke about the ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’ (Government at Your Doorstep) programme. Under this scheme, government services are taken directly to people’s homes and communities. He said around 50 million people had benefited from the programme.
Shinde also praised auto and taxi drivers for helping people in many ways apart from simply providing transport. He said drivers often take accident victims to hospitals, help elderly people reach home safely and ensure women and children travel safely. Some drivers also give free rides to people who cannot afford the fare.
He referred to a recent incident in which a rickshaw driver returned valuables worth lakhs of rupees to a passenger. Shinde said such acts show the honesty and humanity of many drivers.He suggested holding competitions to identify and honour ‘IdealRickshaw/Taxi Driver-Owners’ for their honesty, safe driving and social service.
Shinde also announced a campaign to encourage drivers to learn Marathi. He said around 1.65 lakh people had already learned the language through 180 centres in 36 districts, with the help of 1,800 instructors.
He called for a new statewide Marathi-learning campaign from Gandhi Jayanti to Balasaheb Thackeray Jayanti. Shinde said learning Marathi is not only about getting a certificate. It also helps drivers communicate better with passengers and connect with people across Maharashtra.At the end of his speech, Shinde said the government was committed to keeping its promises. Referring to the retirement benefit, he said the government had promised Rs 10,000 to eligible drivers and that the money was now being deposited into their bank accounts.
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