Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 24: The lockdown compensation of Rs 5,000 each announced by the state government to compensate for the loss the auto-rickshaw drivers suffered due to lack of work during lockdown period, has not reached even 30 per cent of the drivers in Dakshina Kannada district, it is learnt.

Former MLC Ivan D'Souza said that the government had asked drivers in possession of badges to apply for the compensation amount through the Seva Sindhu app. Because of this condition, only about 6,000 auto drivers out of about 20,000 auto and taxi drivers in Dakshina Kannada district could apply for it. Even the 30 per cent drivers who applied have not yet received their compensation amount, he added.

"Obtaining badges, the drivers should have necessarily passed eighth standard. As such, most of the drivers have been deprived of this compensation. There was pressure on the government to disburse compensation even to drivers not possessing badges. The government has agreed and extended the deadline for submission of claim till July 30.

The organisations representing auto and taxi drivers want the changes brought to the scheme to be properly updated in the Seva Sindhu app.

Regional transport officer, R M Varnkekar, has said that the applications directly reach Labour Welfare Board and the compensation disbursement is done at the state level. He said that the amount gets credited directly to the bank accounts of the drivers.

Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, has already assured that he will discuss with the chief minister about the problems encountered in handling Seva Sindhu app and also about disbursement of compensation to these drivers