Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 19
Trucks drivers in Dimapur have been demanding the district administration to provide them with basic amenities such as designated parking lots, emergency medical facilities, and security for drivers.
Upon inquest by The Morung Express, it was learnt from the Dimapur District Truck Drivers’ Welfare Trade Union (DDTDWTU) that the current truck parking lot at Khermahal was born out of an MoU between the union and the land owners and that the district administration did not have any role in facilitating the present parking site. While other commercial vehicles such as autorickshaws and taxis have designated parking lots, there is no such space allotted for trucks in Dimapur.
With no option left, the union negotiated with petrol pump owners to allow their premises to be used as makeshift parking sites. “But how many trucks can be accommodated in the petrol pumps when we have more than 500 registered members which counts to the same number of trucks?” an office bearer of the union wondered.
With no space for parking, the trucks are sighted randomly parked along the National Highway and other roads thereby endangering the life of other commuters as well as the truck drivers. There have been several cases of road accidents reported involving roadside-parked trucks.
The union leaders also decried that they have been made to work at odd hours with the enforcement of No Entry Zone into town area for heavy vehicles from 9 am to 5 pm. However, on this point, they appear to have remained settled taking in consideration that traffic jams would become unmanageable subsequently affecting the larger population if heavy vehicles were allowed entry without a regulated time.
On four occasions, the DDTDWTU has written to the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur to look into their grievances but to no avail.
According to a copy of the representation dated 02/02/2016 and other previous representations, which this newspaper has obtained, the Union has appealed to the administration to provide basic human amenities at No Entry Zone, Chumukedima. The requirements include sanitation facilities such as toilet and bathroom with running water, restroom, information system and office, cafeteria and food facilities and detailing security for the safety of the drivers from unwanted elements.
The DDTDWTU which is registered under the Indian Trade Union Acts vide registration no. LBR/TECH-61/2013 dated 23/08/2013 has also appealed the district authority to provide proper parking facility for trucks considering the convenience of both the truckers and the public.
Another point of appeal includes allocation of fund earmarked annually for emergencies and accident related cases. It has also requested the administration to provide Recovery Van and Ambulance service.
However, the union in one of its meetings resolved to procure a Recovery Van and Ambulance Van on its own by collecting voluntary welfare fund within its members to meet the same. “The same noble objective was misinformed and misinterpreted by the law enforcing agencies maligning the good image of DDTDWTU,” stated the representation and cited instances when its members were taken into police custody.
Maintaining that the Union has been actively assisting the district administration as and when required, the union has appealed the authorities concerned to communicate with its office concerning truck drivers to avoid misunderstanding in the future.
The Union has recently procured a Recovery Van on its own and the effort to get an Ambulance Van has been delayed owing to lack of resources.
On its own initiative with the land owners, the DDTDWTU has also opened a transit camp at New Chumoukedima village facilitating Dimapur truckers as well as other districts and states with lodging, toilet, running water, first aid facilities etc.
With its subsequent appeals with ‘genuine reasons’ falling on deaf ears, the DDTDWTU leaders said they have at times considered strikes but fathoming the consequences that it would bear upon the public, neighbouring districts and Manipur, such decisions were kept in abeyance.
The union further reiterated its appeal to the district administration to look into the “grievances considering the uniqueness and urgency of the matter at the earliest.”
