<p>The Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has threatened to launch an agitation in case the Union government fails to ensure the plying of e-rickshaws on city roads within 10-15 days. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Addressing a rally of e-rickshaw drivers at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, Kejriwal said the recent notification by the Union Road Transport and Highway Ministry to regularise e-rickshaws is fraught with ‘shortcomings’.<br /><br />He claimed that only a section of e-rickshaw drivers will benefit from the government’s recent move. <br /><br />For e-rickshaws to get back on the roads, the ministry’s notification mandates fulfilment of four criteria – government approval for vehicle model, insurance, registration number and licence for the driver. <br /><br />“If every individual will go for testing and approval of e-rickshaw, it will cost him Rs 5 lakh. How can someone, who has spent Rs 80,000 to one lakh to buy the vehicle, shell out Rs five lakh for its testing,” Kejriwal said, while informing e-rickshaw drivers about the shortcomings of the government’s notification.<br /><br />He said the government should do away with education ceiling clause while doling out licence for e-rickshaw drivers. According to the new guidelines, only those with class 10 certificates are to given drivers’ licence. <br /><br />The former chief minister asked the Union government to call a meeting of the e-rickshaw manufacturers within 48 hours, in order to fast track the process of clearance to e-rickshaw models.<br /><br />“But there many e-rickshaws which were assembled or whose manufacturers are no longer in the market. The government should come up with a plan to regularise these vehicles as well,” he said.<br /><br />The AAP has asked the government to organise large-scale camps for issuing licence and registration numbers to over 2 lakh e-rickshaw drivers. Kejriwal claimed that it will help cut through government red-tape and corruption.<br /><br />“We are not forcing the government. It can come up with a solution in 10-15 days. Let the e-rickshaws ply on the roads. Ask the police not to stalk them. And if the government does not find a solution soon then we will struggle on the roads, we will launch a movement,” said Kejriwal.<br /><br />During the rally, several e-rickshaw drivers shared how their livelihood has been impacted since the Delhi High Court ban on plying vehicles on Delhi roads over safety issues.<br /><br />The 7-year-old Munni, daughter of an e-rickshaw driver, also shared her family’s hardship.</p>
<p>The Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has threatened to launch an agitation in case the Union government fails to ensure the plying of e-rickshaws on city roads within 10-15 days. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Addressing a rally of e-rickshaw drivers at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, Kejriwal said the recent notification by the Union Road Transport and Highway Ministry to regularise e-rickshaws is fraught with ‘shortcomings’.<br /><br />He claimed that only a section of e-rickshaw drivers will benefit from the government’s recent move. <br /><br />For e-rickshaws to get back on the roads, the ministry’s notification mandates fulfilment of four criteria – government approval for vehicle model, insurance, registration number and licence for the driver. <br /><br />“If every individual will go for testing and approval of e-rickshaw, it will cost him Rs 5 lakh. How can someone, who has spent Rs 80,000 to one lakh to buy the vehicle, shell out Rs five lakh for its testing,” Kejriwal said, while informing e-rickshaw drivers about the shortcomings of the government’s notification.<br /><br />He said the government should do away with education ceiling clause while doling out licence for e-rickshaw drivers. According to the new guidelines, only those with class 10 certificates are to given drivers’ licence. <br /><br />The former chief minister asked the Union government to call a meeting of the e-rickshaw manufacturers within 48 hours, in order to fast track the process of clearance to e-rickshaw models.<br /><br />“But there many e-rickshaws which were assembled or whose manufacturers are no longer in the market. The government should come up with a plan to regularise these vehicles as well,” he said.<br /><br />The AAP has asked the government to organise large-scale camps for issuing licence and registration numbers to over 2 lakh e-rickshaw drivers. Kejriwal claimed that it will help cut through government red-tape and corruption.<br /><br />“We are not forcing the government. It can come up with a solution in 10-15 days. Let the e-rickshaws ply on the roads. Ask the police not to stalk them. And if the government does not find a solution soon then we will struggle on the roads, we will launch a movement,” said Kejriwal.<br /><br />During the rally, several e-rickshaw drivers shared how their livelihood has been impacted since the Delhi High Court ban on plying vehicles on Delhi roads over safety issues.<br /><br />The 7-year-old Munni, daughter of an e-rickshaw driver, also shared her family’s hardship.</p>
