Taxi Drivers Protest in Hyderabad for Rights and Promises
A protest was held near LB Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Telangana State Taxi and Driver Joint Action Committee (TTD-JAC). The groups called for the State government to fulfill promises made during elections. The protest was led by Shaik Salauddin, founder and president of TGPWU, and A Nagesh Kumar, co-chairman of TTD-JAC.
The protesters, which included taxi drivers, demanded that the government implement promises made by Congress leader Revanth Reddy. According to them, these promises were supposed to be fulfilled within 15 days of assuming office.
One of the main demands was to ban illegal bike transportation services offered through platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. They also called for the government to regulate and set a standard fare per kilometer for taxi drivers. Additionally, the protestors urged the government to enact a “Protection for Gig and Platform Workers Act” to provide gig workers with fair wages and social security.
Shaik Salauddin emphasized the need for a government-backed app for taxi drivers, similar to private platforms like Ola and Uber. He also stressed the importance of establishing a welfare board for transport sector workers. Another key demand was the renewal of the Rs 5 lakh accident insurance scheme under the Social Security Scheme for the year 2024-2025.
The protestors also called for an immediate increase in hire vehicle charges, raising the amount from Rs 34,000 to Rs 55,000. They urged the government to prioritize these issues to improve the working conditions and welfare of taxi drivers across the state.
