Do away with e-registration say auto drivers

Autorickshaw drivers in the state urged the government to do away with e-registration to ply passengers as it is impractical and affecting their livelihood.

After four weeks of lockdown, the government allowed the autos and taxis to ply with mandatory e-registration. “Only familiar persons can get e-registration by entering the name of the auto driver and vehicle number. How come a passenger who is a stranger will know the unknown driver name and vehicle number to get e-registration? It is impractical one,” said M Shivaji, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Autorickshaw Workers Union affiliated to CITU.

He said the government allowing plying of the autos with e-registration is not a relief, but only created confusion among the drivers. “On Monday, we held a protest against e-registration by sending online petitions to the Chief Minister’s office. Only then the drivers could start plying their vehicles without fear of police harassment,” he said.

R Karuppaiah, an auto driver at Triplicane said “Even without e-registration, my earning has fallen sharply due to less floating population,” he complained.

He also urged the state to provide a relief of Rs 7,500 to the drivers with valid license. “Last year, the government announced Rs 2,000 relief, but only a few benefited from it. So we have been demanding the government to provide a one-time relief of Rs 7,500 to all the autorickshaw drivers with a valid license,” he added.