Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha on Thursday announced that its members will join the nationwide indefinite ‘Quit Steering Wheel’ agitation called by truck drivers to protest against the new ‘hit-and-run’ law introduced by the Centre.
While the strike commenced across the country today, Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh members will join the strike in a couple of days after they hand over their vehicles to their owners.
According to Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha president Prashant Menduli, they wanted to join the strike today but decided to postpone it by a day so that they could hand over their vehicles to their owners. He said that they will join the strike tomorrow.
It is worth mentioning here that the new law regarding hit-and-run cases has a provision for 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 7 lakh for the offenders. Describing the new law as ‘unjustified’, the drivers’ association said that the drivers spend their lives on the roads but earn a paltry sum. If they are jailed who would look after their families, they asked. Moreover, it is rather ‘impossible’ for a driver to pay the Rs 7 lakh fine.
Members of the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh have been demanding a welfare fund, death benefits to family members, social security for the family including pension after 60 years of age, parking facilities, and wayside amenities since 2023 but the government is yet to concede the demands. As a result, the mahasangh went on an indefinite strike in March 2023 but called off the agitation after three days following assurance of the state government that their demands would be considered.
