IMPHAL, January 14: The 27th Drivers Day was observed at several places in the State today commemorating the sacrifices of the drivers for the welfare of the State.
The All Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ & Motor Workers’ Union (AMRTD & MWU) observed the day at Langjing Achouba Truck Parking lot, Imphal West.
The function was attended by Social Welfare & Co-operation Minister AK Mirabai Devi, AMRTD & MWU president S Manglem Singh, All India Trade Union Congress president Dr M Nara and State Transport Director Haobam Rosita Devi as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
Speaking at the function, Dr M Nara appealed to all the trade unions to join hands to mount pressure on the Centre for deployment of highway protection force along the national highways.
“In a couple of days let us all prepare a memorandum and go to Delhi. I and AITUC are happy to take the lead to meet the Prime Minister of India and to share our grievances to him once again.”
“We will pressurize him to deploy highway protection force within a short period of time, possibly by the month of March,” said Nara.
Dr Nara said that the transporters must not take the deaths of drivers and handymen, who died in line of duty along the highway, lightly thinking it as their bad fortune or agitate over a particular incident by imposing bandhs along the highway which only incite frustration of the public.
Instead, we need to come up with a holistic approach to make the government concede to the demands, said Nara.
Minister Ak Mirabai, speaking at the function apologised the gathering for being late and wishes the divers and the members of the union on this day.
While acknowledging the important role of drivers in the society, she also prayed for the best in future.
She also asked for co-operation from the unions saying that the government alone cannot make progress.
People who came to attend the function, which included the family members of the deceased transporters, paid floral tribute as a mark of respect to the 211 deceased members of the union who lost their lives during the period of 1978 to 2015.
The day was also observed by the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers’ Union at Maipakpi Community Hall, Chingmeirong Mamang, Imphal.
Speaking as the chief guest of the function, PDA chairman and vice president MPCC T Mangibabu said the duty bound drivers of the State ferrying goods for the people of the State continue to face untold miseries and life threatening dangers in their line of work.
People should acknowledge this he said adding that the drivers are risking their lives for the welfare of the general public.
It is our bounden duty to extend all possible help and support to them.
Elaborating on the dangers threatening the drivers of the State, he said they are driving night and day on hilly terrains and they faced kidnappings and killings.
He said such violence against the drivers and the handymen are unfortunate, and further appealed to all not to repeat such inhumane in the future.
It may be mentioned that the Drivers’ Day was observed since 1990 on January 14 against the humiliations and torture that the drivers had to undergo along the national highways and commemorating those drivers and handymen who had lost their lives while carrying out their duty.
Floral tributes were also paid to portraits of the departed drivers as part of the observation.
Union president Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh while addressing the function said it is really unfortunate that the drivers and the handymen continue to face threats from anti-socials along the highways.
He further sought the government’s attention towards the problems faced by the drivers and handymen along the highways and to introduce some welfare schemes for them.
Ghosh also urged the government to declare the Drivers’ Day as a State holiday in remembrance of the drivers and handymen who have lost their lives during their line of duty.
As part of the function, family members of departed drivers, handyman, aged/retired drivers and veteran drivers were also felicitated.
The function was also attended by state-level coordinate IOC Ltd Manipur SI Singh and Senior Depot Manager IOC Ltd Manipur D Mephun Maring as guests of honour.