Bhubaneswar: The State Government is to form a committee to look into the demands of Odisha Driver Mahasangha and necessary action will be taken within three months, said Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera on Monday.
The decision was taken after a discussion with the drivers who are staging a protest in Bhubaneswar as the government had not fulfilled their demands.
Behera said that the committee will assess what steps have been taken by other State Government for their drivers. Any future course of action will depend on the findings of the committee.
It is pertinent to mention that the Mahasangha had carried out a padayatra from various districts to Bhubaneswar on October 21 over a 10-point charter of demands. As the government had not fulfilled the said demands, even after giving assurance, the Mahasangha took to the streets again.
Their demands include enacting a special law for the protection of drivers, construction of restrooms every 100 kilometres on National & State Highways, and pension for drivers after attaining the age of 55.
Other demands include health insurance of Rs 5 lakh, fixed salary, higher education facility for children, housing facilities, etc.
