SHILLONG, AUG 21: Around 70 drivers of the Shillong Supplementary Public Transport Services (SSPTS) maxi cabs plying to the different routes of Shillong on Thursday decided to stop-work to protest against the recent order issued by Synroplang Self Help Group.
One of the driver said, “We decided to resume duty only when the private operator comes out with a clear cut clarification on its recent order.”
The drivers staged a protest in the parking lot of the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) in Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) causing inconvenience to the commuters. The drivers informed that the private operator issued an order fixing different target for the all drivers plying through different routes of the city and its outskirt.
The order was made effective from August 1. According to them, the operator has fixed a revenue target ranging from Rs 2100 to Rs 2700 daily.
Earlier, the drivers plying through the different routes managed to bring revenue varying from Rs 1300 to Rs 1900 per day.
“The operator has also asked the drivers to resign from their job if they cannot meet the new target,” the drivers said. They said, “The target fixed for all the drivers is quite illogical and unjustified given the fact that there are heavy traffic jams across the city roads.”
The drivers said how it will be possible for them to meet the new targets when the magnitude of traffic jam across the city roads is alarming. The drivers aid the decision is nothing but to harass them. One of the driver said, “On top of that, commuters now hesitate to even board a maxi taxis after the hike in passengers fare was implemented.”
The drivers have also expressed their opposition against the alleged harassment by the private operator for deducting their salaries and irregular payment of salary.
Notwithstanding the salaries that has been fixed at Rs 4500, but because of unreasonable deduction by the operator it has created a lot of problems to the drivers,” they said. According to them, though Sunday is not working day for them, the operator has deducted Rs 150 a day from their salaries.
The drivers felt that it is not fair to harass them this way despite as they they are getting meager salary.- By Our Reporter
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