Lorry stir enters seventh day: Daily wagers worst hit

Mysuru – The indefinite stir by members of various lorry associations, which  started from Mar. 30 midnight, entered its seventh day today.

The truckers are staging the stir following a call given by the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA) to press for their various demands including the roll-back of the increased premium for third party insurance, hike in penalty and toll fee among other demands.

Though public are free of worry for some more days as there are enough stock of essential commodities with the traders, the labourers and daily wagers are the ones who are severely hit.

With lorries being stationed in various lorry stands across the city, daily wagers and labourers (loaders and un-loaders), who used to earn about Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,000 a day, are now jobless and are facing difficulty in making the ends meet with no money even to buy a meal.

Abdul Khader, President of Railway Goods Shed Lorry Owners Association, speaking to SOM this morning, said that there are about 1,000 daily wagers from Mysuru, Nanjangud, T. Narasipur, H.D. Kote and surrounding places, involved in loading and unloading here, are now jobless and added that even labourers in old Santhepet, APMC Yard and RMC are without jobs since a week.

He said that as the Government had not responded to their requests, they have decided to intensify the stir till the demands were met.

DC holds Task Force Committee meeting: Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) D. Randeep, yesterday chaired a meeting of the Task Force Committee at his office asking the officials to be prepared to face situations arising from the lorry strike.

During the meeting the officials from the Mysore District Co-operative Milk Producers Societies Union Ltd. and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the DC was apprised that apart from small issues the situation was under control.

They said that fruits and vegetables were arriving to city markets in small goods vehicles and added that prices of some essential commodities have been hiked but not to that extent of getting panic. He instructed the officials to make use of trucks available in the Transport Department if need arises.

Helpline established: The DC said that in order to not inconvenience the public following the lorry stir, helplines have been established in State and District levels and urged the public to call Helpline No: 0821-2330364, 2423800, Bengaluru Control No.: 080-22225805, 22213785, in case they face problems.