Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 17: As per the amended law, having badge number is not mandatory for taxis and auto rickshaws. However, as per the Covid compensation package for auto-rickshaw drivers announced by the state government, badge number has to be mentioned in the Seva Sindhu web portal if the drivers want to get benefit under this scheme. Many wonder how anyone can claim this package when badge number is no more relevant.

A few years back, the Supreme Court had ruled that badges are necessary only for vehicles like buses, trucks and tippers and not for taxis and vehicles smaller than them. The union ministry of surface transport later made amendments to fall in line with the Supreme Court verdict. The auto-rickshaw drivers say that under these conditions, the state was not right in making badge number compulsory for claiming the compensation package. As per the current rules, those having car driving licences can also drive auto rickshaws and they need not possess any badges.

This rule had also been enforced during last year's compensation package. But many of the drivers did not have a problem as their licences had not been renewed and they could use old badge numbers. But during the last one year, over 50 percent of auto-rickshaw drivers and taxi drivers have renewed their licences. When renewing the licence, their badge numbers have been cancelled. The auto-rickshaw drivers say that web portal does not accept applications where badge numbers are not mentioned.

Arun, advisor of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Auto-rickshaw Drivers Association, says that most of the drivers may not get the benefit of the package this time because of the mandatory badge number condition. He said that the central government has cancelled the system of badges and therefore he said that the association urges the government to waive this condition for claiming Covid compensation package.