Autorickshaw drivers express fear over loss of livelihood due to ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme

Autorickshaw drivers staged a protest over the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme rolled out by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Independence Day, in Vijayawada on Monday.

The scheme aimed at providing free bus travel for women and transgenders in Andhra Pradesh, is a bane for autorickshaw, cab and taxi drivers, the protestors said. The free bus travel for women will cause a dent in their economy. Many drivers have lost their livelihood due to the new scheme, they said.

“I bought an autorickshaw a year ago on finance, and I am paying ₹10,000 as instalment every month. The newly launched Stree Shakti scheme dashed the hopes of my family,” said Anand, an autorickshaw driver at Nuzvid.

“There are nearly 5 lakh autorickshaws in the State. Many educated youth are offering autorickshaw and cab services in urban and rural areas apart from cities,” said Rajesh, a taxi driver in Vijayawada.

Registering their protest against the new scheme, autorickshaw drivers observed bandh at many places in the State and demanded the government to withdraw it immediately. In Bhimavaram, autorickshaw drivers organised a rally opposing free bus travel for women and urged the government to save them from losses.

Some autorickshaw drivers observed bandh and expressed their protest at Jangareddygudem and the neighbouring villages in Eluru district. Autorickshaws transporting girl students were also cancelled after government introduced the new scheme, the drivers said.

“I am providing education to my two children in college and feeding the family by running an autorickshaw. However, now I am unable to pay the monthly instalment and run my family with the meagre income,” said G. Raghu (name changed) of Koyyalagudem in Eluru district.

“Already autorickshaw services were badly hit after Rapido, Ola and other apps started operating in cities and urban areas. This is another blow on the autorickshaw drivers, said Shiva Shankar, who completed diploma in Civil engineering and runs an autorickshaw.

Meanwhile, some autorickshaw and cab drivers have decided to sell their vehicles fearing losses in the coming days. Drivers were seen discussing the impact of the new scheme. “I have two taxis, of which one I run by myself, and the other one is handled by a hired driver. However, now nobody is taking taxis,” said a taxi owner, V. Nagendra.

“Many autorickshaws and taxis remained in the parking stands for the last 10 days as there are no passengers. Government should think of some alternative to bail out the auto drivers from this crisis,” the drivers said.