Cab operators seek aid from government

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Citing financial distress and low operating profit, the All Assam Cab Operators Association (AACOA) has appealed to the state government to come to the rescue of the cab owners and operators. In a memorandum to chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, the All Assam Cab Operators Association urged the state government to formulate a government scheme for the nearly 15,000 educated cab owners and operators of the state or include them among the schemes meant for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category of people. The association also sought the government's intervention for reducing the commission levied by the online cab service providers on the cab operators.

"In the initial days, the cab owners and operators were able to provide for their families through their income. But with the passage of time, both the service providers ANI Technology Private Limited (OLA) and UBER have started harassing the owners and drivers in various ways. The income also started to decrease. As a result, owners or operators who have purchased vehicles with loans from banks or other financial institutions have to face lots of trouble," All Assam Cab Operators Association president Bishnu Das said.

He added, "Those who could not arrange a source of livelihood had chosen commercial vehicles as source of income but ANI Technology Private Limited (OLA) and UBER have been mentally harassing cab operators by illegally charging high rates of commission. Moreover, the high rates of fees while renewing documents of commercial vehicles are also causing financial distress to cab owners. The daily income of a cab driver is between Rs 400 to Rs 500 only. There is no difference of income between a daily wage earner and a cab driver but the drivers are still deprived of any government scheme applicable to the citizens below the poverty line."

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