Drivers face financial crisis amid lockdown, seek govt help

Telangana cab and autorickshaw drivers have asked the Center and state governments for financial assistance to force them to leave their income and stay home while locking the coronavirus.

The movement of all vehicles is prohibited except to provide the necessary services and goods during the lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. “I have not had a job for the last month. Our daily expenses are very difficult. Our children are also in distress. They need some extra help when the government receives rations and protects their livelihood, he said.

“Since locking up, my vehicle has been parked, so I have a lot of problems. My family is running out of money. We can’t even afford basic needs. Most drivers cannot even repay their loan installments.

“We have a lot of financial problems. We have parents and children, we have maintenance, we pay for our vehicles and we rent our homes. We are not sitting at home,” he said.

Meanwhile, cab drivers associated with Uber and Ola have asked the Department of Transportation to issue a loan waiver period and impose fines during their lockdown. Ola and Uber launched Driver Relief Fund to help their driving partners meet their immediate and essential family needs during the Coronavirus Crisis.

Source- Times of India