Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Three months after the UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir relaxed restrictions amid COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the auto drivers struggle to keep afloat as they face poor response and financial pressure.
They rue that very few people are stepping out and availing their services, while private financiers are forcing them to pay back the loans taken by them during purchase of the vehicles.
Public service vehicles, including auto rickshaws, were allowed to ply on the roads following relaxations in the COVID-induced lockdown from May 25.
With people still keeping indoors due to the Coronavirus scare, auto rickshaw drivers are finding passengers with much difficulty these days. Most of these drivers are finding it hard to survive, said Hardev Singh, Chairman, Jammu Auto Operators Union while interacting with the EXCELSIOR.
Around 2500 registered autos ply on Jammu city roads and most of them run in shifts, said Singh.
“It has become difficult to feed our families due to a sharp decline in demand as people are not stepping out due to Coronavirus. What worsens the situation for auto drivers is that they have taken loans and private financiers are putting pressure on them for payment”, he stated.
Many auto drivers complain that they are being forced by private financiers to pay the installments of loans threatening to confiscate their vehicles. Even some of the vehicles have been confiscated by the private financers, said drivers during interaction outside GMCH Hospital auto stand.
“I took a loan from a private financier, who is now demanding payment and threatening to take away my auto. I have a family of five. I do not earn enough to feed my family let alone pay the installment”, said auto driver on the condition of anonymity as he feared that private finance will confiscate his vehicle.
The condition of those driving rented vehicles is particularly grave. Even they don’t have money to buy food.
“Even facing the risk of catching COVID-19 infection, drivers are working but it is a misfortune that they are not being able to earn enough to pay rent and feed their families”, Singh added.
With fuel and other expenses like buying sanitisers adding to the kitty, it is difficult to survive with our income, says another auto driver as he waits for passengers at Janipur auto stand.
Both the Centre and UT Government of Jammu and Kashmir should waive off all the documents fees for the entire year, particularly the insurance and passenger tax in view of the pandemic and its economic impact, Union Chairman said, and also demanded compensation for the auto drivers, who are facing acute financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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