In a government resolution released on Saturday, March 16, the Maharashtra government announced the allocation of INR 50 crore for the establishment of a welfare board dedicated to auto and taxi drivers. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was also a rickshaw driver early in his career in Thane. The GR also highlighted the need for a separate board.
The welfare board will implement around eight to nine programs. These include health and education initiatives, scholarships for drivers’ children, pensions for ageing drivers, medical treatment for those involved in accidents, and financial help in case of a driver’s death.
According to reports, nearly 10 lakh car and taxi drivers in the state stand to benefit from these initiatives. The unions have been advocating for provisions that would provide long-term insurance coverage for drivers and their families in case they lose their jobs.
The state is expected to cap the monthly income at INR 10,000 for drivers who fall below the poverty line. The unions have also proposed enlisting insurance providers that allow holders to pay annually. According to sources, the state labour department started drafting the procedure for making a welfare board for drivers of taxis, autorickshaws, and other vehicles at the beginning of last year.
The state government is exploring additional funding sources for the upkeep of the drivers’ vehicles. The coverage may also be extended to drivers from other sectors, such as aggregator services, freight carriages, and truck-tempo operators. States like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu already have welfare boards and driver programmes in place.
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