Cabbies, auto drivers elated by govt schemes

The allocation of Rs 50 crore for housing facilities to auto and taxi drivers and Rs 30 crore towards a group insurance scheme has received the thumbs up from the driving community.

The budget announced Drivers Day event in all districts to identify good services of the drivers from various sectors. Two drivers of maxi cabs, buses, goods vehicles, taxis and autorickshaws sector, subject to a maximum of 10, will get a cash reward of Rs 25,000.

Adarsh Autorickshaw Drivers' Union general secretary C Sampath said it was for the first time that the government had come forward to recognise auto drivers and thanked the chief minister for the initiative. “This will definitely inspire many of us to do a better job,” he said.

Tanveer Pasha, leader of a taxi association, said through such schemes the government had taken note of a large community of drivers.