Covid hits Pune auto-rickshaw drivers again, many complain of financial, mental stress

Pune auto-rickshaw drivers are once again on the receiving end of the COVID-19 pandemic. As in the first and second waves, they feel the heat even during the third wave. Along with the mental stress, drivers are dealing with a financial crisis due to declining ridership which is leading to many other problems.

“Before the arrival of the pandemic, an auto-rickshaw driver transported 10 to 15 passengers a day, which has been reduced to three or four now. The daily profit has also been halved from 500-600 rupees to 200-300 rupees. This is causing multiple problems including household management, financing our children’s education and so on,” says Baba Kamble, president of the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat, a union of rickshaw owners and drivers.

“This has led to auto-rickshaw drivers defaulting on loan payments, subsequently resulting in finance companies filing lawsuits against us. In many cases, even our cars have been impounded. These companies are not giving any respite given the current state of things,” he added.

Ayub Sheikh, a car driver who has driven the three-wheeler for the past 25 years, said: “I have an outstanding loan of Rs 80,000 after several lockdowns affected my finances. I took money for daily survival and now I have to pay Rs 6,000 every month to my lenders. Because of this loan, I had to cancel my son’s plan to get an MBA and now I have doubts about allowing my daughter to continue her education after the age of 12.”

Sanjay Kale has been experiencing back pain for a while now due to his herniated disc. Kale faces problems while sitting for a long time and somehow manages to drive the auto-rickshaw for the whole day. Kale had planned to have surgery this year, but had to put it off after the pandemic hit once again. “The operation requires Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 and the decrease in my daily income forced me to postpone it for a few months,” he said.

Some auto-rickshaw drivers also face mental health issues and sudden changes in emotions due to a downturn in business. Anil Kamble, lamenting his aggressive behaviour, said: “I get aggressive sometimes when I don’t have enough passengers. Most of all, I am able to control my emotions, but sometimes it flares up. The first victims are my fellow autowalas and family members.”

However, the misery of car drivers this time is not so severe compared to the second wave. Ashok Salekar, president of the Shivneri Rickshaw Union, recalls how he and his union members helped 800-900 car drivers with daily rations last year. “Conditions are not extreme like the last wave, but yes, car drivers are facing challenges,” he said.

Car drivers are also complaining about the implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 in December last year, which increased composite fees for traffic offences.

The fine for violators now ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the offence. The state government believes that strict implementation of the new amendment will ensure better road safety and discipline. Drivers feel the new tickets are adding an unnecessary financial burden during this harrowing time.

Another challenge is the operation of taxi companies that have challenged their monopoly and, according to car drivers, “ate their business”.

Rubbing salt in its wound, taxi companies have introduced bike taxi services in Pune, which is further damaging reach. Drivers are increasingly concerned about the growing demand for taxi and pedicab services, especially in urban areas.

Earlier, in a meeting with Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat had put forward four main demands which included a welfare board for auto-rickshaw drivers, old-age pension, interest-free loan for the purchase of cars and financial aid for your children’s education

Expressing dismay at the one-time payment of Rs 1,500 by the state government, the union demands Rs 5,000 every month on the Delhi and Andhra Pradesh lines.

“Automotive unions have long argued that the government should guarantee social security given that auto-rickshaw drivers contribute more than Rs 50,000 to the government treasury at the time of purchase and Rs 15,000 every year as insurance and other payments,” Kamble added. .