The rich is getting richer and the poor is dying and starving in the era of online services. Troubled by online transport company Ola’s issues, Indore e-cab Chalak Mahasangh (association of e-cab drivers) president Inder Singh Yadav and Neelesh Gehlot have announced ‘Atmadaha’ (self-immolation) in front of Collectorate on Aug 26 at 12 pm quoting that they have no way out.
Drivers of e-cabs run by Ola transport company, which provides online booking services, feel self-immolation is their only option, as the company increases commission from 16 percent to 35 percent to churn out more profits.
“When these companies, especially Ola came to Indore, they signed an agreement with us, noting that they will take 16 percent commission on rides, but now, they have inflated their commission to 35 percent, which barely leaves any profit for us,” Rajesh Bidkar, coordinator of association said. The cab drivers are suffering from losses and feel tied down with no way out of the problem.
“The company does not have trade license, does not pay tax, does not follow rules set by RTO (Regional Transport Office), and does not even care about safety of passengers as there is no police verification for drivers!” Bidkar said in exasperation.
The press note released by the association quoted, “The company takes away its profit of Rs 1 crore 40 lakh rupees from our hard earned money every month and we are struggling to meet our daily expenses.”
Further, it added that Ola is bringing private cabs into use, misleading them bringing them under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and giving priority to those cabs. “We are at loss, because we do not get customers first hand, have to pay high commissions and are facing a situation, where suicide is the only option,” Bidkar said.
According to the release, the association has been fighting the issue for over 10 days now. “We have staged demonstrations, been on hunger strikes, submitted memorandums to district administration, RTO, police administration and traffic police, and though everyone accepts that company is fault, no actions have been taken,” Bidkar said.
In the last hunger strike, the company had given assurance to drivers and association in writing but did not help in solving any of the issues.
Demands of association
• Negotiate commission and bring it down below 20 percent to provide them enough profits for survival
• Give same priority to Ola’s private cabs and driver-owned cabs
• Make police verification compulsory for drivers
• Follow rate rules issued by RTO and contribute tax to government and have requisite trade license
Will take actions where possible
“The agreement signed between drivers and the companies is a personal contract, where we cannot intervene. Considering RTO rates and trade license, we have already taken some actions, where two-wheeler permission given to the companies has been taken back. Further, actions would be taken with the help of police administration.”
Jitendra Raghuvanshi
RTO
Drivers of e-cabs run by Ola transport company, which provides online booking services, feel self-immolation is their only option, as the company increases commission from 16 percent to 35 percent to churn out more profits.
“When these companies, especially Ola came to Indore, they signed an agreement with us, noting that they will take 16 percent commission on rides, but now, they have inflated their commission to 35 percent, which barely leaves any profit for us,” Rajesh Bidkar, coordinator of association said. The cab drivers are suffering from losses and feel tied down with no way out of the problem.
“The company does not have trade license, does not pay tax, does not follow rules set by RTO (Regional Transport Office), and does not even care about safety of passengers as there is no police verification for drivers!” Bidkar said in exasperation.
The press note released by the association quoted, “The company takes away its profit of Rs 1 crore 40 lakh rupees from our hard earned money every month and we are struggling to meet our daily expenses.”
Further, it added that Ola is bringing private cabs into use, misleading them bringing them under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and giving priority to those cabs. “We are at loss, because we do not get customers first hand, have to pay high commissions and are facing a situation, where suicide is the only option,” Bidkar said.
According to the release, the association has been fighting the issue for over 10 days now. “We have staged demonstrations, been on hunger strikes, submitted memorandums to district administration, RTO, police administration and traffic police, and though everyone accepts that company is fault, no actions have been taken,” Bidkar said.
In the last hunger strike, the company had given assurance to drivers and association in writing but did not help in solving any of the issues.
Demands of association
• Negotiate commission and bring it down below 20 percent to provide them enough profits for survival
• Give same priority to Ola’s private cabs and driver-owned cabs
• Make police verification compulsory for drivers
• Follow rate rules issued by RTO and contribute tax to government and have requisite trade license
Will take actions where possible
“The agreement signed between drivers and the companies is a personal contract, where we cannot intervene. Considering RTO rates and trade license, we have already taken some actions, where two-wheeler permission given to the companies has been taken back. Further, actions would be taken with the help of police administration.”
Jitendra Raghuvanshi
RTO