Scrap class 8 rule for auto drivers: Kejri

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday sought the abolition of rule eight of the Motor Vehicles Act which mandates autorickshaw drivers to have a class eight certificate to get a driving badge.

Kejriwal, who addressed an autorickshaw drivers’ rally “Aiyyo Namappa, Dudiyode Tappa?” organised by the Aam Admi Party (AAP) at St Joesph’s College grounds in the City, said the decision to amend the Act in 2009 has forced drivers to resort to unlawful means. The rally was planned as part of AAP’s ongoing campaign in support of auto drivers.

“I am told people pay
Rs 20,000 to get a class eight certificate here. Autos contribute to 40 per cent of public transport in Bengaluru and over two lakh families depend on this profession for livelihood,” he added. He said this was not a problem confined to Karnataka, but affected the whole country. He added that he would write to the Centre and meet Union Transport Nitin Gadkari in this regard.

Though he had a degree certificate, Kejriwal confessed he did not have a class eight certificate. “Where is the need for formal education when all they need to do is interpret traffic signs?” he questioned.

 In Delhi, he said, a committee had been formed to identify rules which were of no use to the common man and were scrapped. "In Delhi, we believe those who have less in life must have more in law.”

Opposing yet another rule that mandates auto drivers to know at least one Indian language thoroughly, Kejriwal said, “What if a Bengali driver comes to Bengaluru? How will the language help him? Do political leaders who roam countries know French when they go to France?”

Citing the system in Delhi in which auto drivers could reach the chief minister through phone, Kejriwal asked drivers here if they had the chief minister’s phone number. A unanimous “no” was the reply.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said it was good Modi has been travelling abroad seeking investments.

However, it would be ideal if he travelled the length and breadth of the country first and understood the problems faced by small-time businessmen and auto drivers.