Bhubaneswar: A state-wide strike by drivers in Odisha has brought the state to a standstill, with over 2 lakh drivers participating in the Quit Steering Wheel movement.
The strike, called by the Odisha Driver Mahasangh, is demanding a separate law for drivers and has resulted in the cessation of all vehicular movement, including buses, trucks, and autorickshaws. Also, one of their major demands is to scrap the state’s proposal to grant vehicle-checking powers to the police.
The Odisha Driver Mahasangh has put forth a list of demands, which includes the inclusion of auto drivers in the Odisha Motor Transport Drivers and Workers Welfare Board. Additionally, they are seeking pension benefits for drivers after they turn 60 years.
The Mahasangh is also demanding that drivers who lose their lives in accidents should receive insurance coverage of Rs 20 lakh, while those who are injured in accidents should be provided with Rs 5 lakh for medical treatment. Furthermore, they want the construction of restrooms and toilets for drivers every 100 km to ensure their well-being during long drives.
Other demands include regulating driving hours to prevent fatigue, reducing the driving license fee to less than Rs 15,000, and reserving 70% of driver jobs in mines, quarries, and factories for local drivers. The Mahasangh has also requested that September 1 be declared as National Drivers’ Day.
The movement has received support from various trade unions and left-wing parties.
The movement, spearheaded by the union’s president Prashant Menduli, has disrupted commercial and private vehicle operations across several districts to bring attention to crucial issues affecting driver welfare, policy decisions, and infrastructure support.
