Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha, an umbrella body representing drivers of commercial vehicles including buses and trucks, on Sunday called off its five-day-long ‘cease work’ protest across the state.
The strike, which began on July 8, was launched in support of several demands, including the introduction of a pension scheme, provision of rest sheds, and broader welfare measures for commercial vehicle drivers.
Announcing the decision to withdraw the agitation, the association’s state secretary Manas Debata cited the upcoming visit of President Droupadi Murmu to Odisha as the reason.
“Our President, who belongs to this soil, is scheduled to visit Odisha on July 14. We have decided to call off our ongoing protest so that the image of our state is not affected at the national level,” Debata said while addressing media persons at Redhakhol in Sambalpur district.
During the five-day protest, thousands of drivers of buses, trucks, vans, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and other commercial vehicles participated under the banner of the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha. Demonstrations and sit-ins were reported from various locations, severely impacting private bus services in several regions.
The association, which claims a membership of over two lakh drivers, had pressed for a set of demands including: Pension for drivers after the age of 60, Death benefits for families of deceased drivers, Rest sheds every 100 km along major roads, Inclusion of auto-rickshaw drivers under the Odisha Motor Transport Drivers and Workers’ Welfare Board and Declaration of September 1 as ‘Drivers’ Day’.
