Insurance, e-pass & affordable food for truck driver & helpers on govt's table

NEW DELHI: The Centre is likely to announce a series of measures, including insurance cover for truck drivers and their helpers, providing food at nominal price at petrol pumps and giving e-passes that drivers can show to reach their destination.

An empowered group of secretaries has made these recommendations to the government to ensure seamless movement of trucks. A decision on these recommendations will be taken soon, sources said. TOI has learnt that the consumer affairs ministry has agreed to pay the premium amount for insurance cover to the driver and an accompanying staff as they are engaged in essential supply of items. The ministry is the nodal authority responsible for ensuring that there is no shortage of essential items.

“Though food packets are being made available to drivers at toll plazas, there were complaints that drivers were struggling to get food as all roadside dhabas and other eateries are shut. The group suggested that the petroleum and natural gas ministry take the responsibility of ensuring food for drivers at very affordable prices,” said a source.

In order to address the complaints of truck owners that their drivers are facing problems due to the lockdown, the panel has suggested that e-passes can be issued to the driver and another staff, which they can show to the enforcement personnel. Sources said all modalities are being worked out. Isurance regulator, IRDA, will decide what will be the premium once a decision is taken about the insurance cover.

TOI had on March 30 first reported about the proposal to give insurance cover to drivers. Truckers’ associations have been claiming that because of alleged harassment, availability of drivers had reduced to 15 for every 100 trucks as compared to 58-60 drivers per 100 trucks before the coronavirus outbreak.

“Many are finding reasons to return home and they are scared. While the demand for movement of essential commodities is increasing, supply is not even close to matching it as not more than 10% of trucks are running,” said an office-bearer of All India Transporters’ Welfare Association (AITWA). He claimed that warehouses and factories where trucks need to be unloaded were not open.

Both AITWA and All India Motor Transport Congress, a pan-India truckers’ association, alleged that instructions of the home ministry to allow trucks to operate are not being followed on the ground at many places.

Source: The Times of India