Awareness campaign on amended Central Motor Vehicle Act

Following the release of a draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, Bharath Informal Workers Initiative (BHIWI) will launch an awareness campaign across the country about the procedure to get driving licence (DL) among autorickshaw and cab drivers who are working without a DL.

A campaign will be organised in this connection, in Mysuru at J K Grounds, on January 30. Addressing media persons in the city recently, former minister S A Ramdas said even though repeated requests were made to the government for the past 25 years, the amendment was not effected.

“There are lakhs of autorickshaw and cab drivers in India. As per the 1988 Act, one should have a minimum education qualification of class VIII, to obtain a DL. Even though many drivers have good driving skills, they are not provided the DL due to the rule.

 Ramdas said, nearly 41 lakh autorickshaw drivers and over 26 lakh goods vehicle drivers do not possess valid DLs. According to the amendment, a person who is able to read and write in any one Indian language can get a DL by clearing a practical examination. The government will regularise the new rule through a gazette notification on January 29, he said.

As per a survey conducted by the Union government in the year 2014, there were more than 48.7 crore people in the country, who are working in the unorganised sectors. Only about seven per cent of the people are working in government organisations, private sector organisations and industries.

The remaining 93 per cent are self-employed or employees in the unorganised sector. BHIWI has collaborated with the National Law School of India University and is working continuously since 11 months for the betterment of the workers in the unorganised sector.

BHIWI is insisting the Central government to provide an Unorganised Workers Identification Number (UWIN) to such people and also provide health security, accident insurance, skill development programmes, and monetary help to children of such workers, said Ramdas.

Similar events will be organised in Kalaburgi, Hubballi-Dharwad and Bengaluru and at different parts of the country also, Ramdas said.