Truckers call off strike as govt assures to look into demands

Truckers on Friday called off their eight-day old strike after the government's assurance to look into their demands, according to a statement.

All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which claims support of 93 lakh truckers, had gone on an indefinite strike demanding reduction in diesel prices, among others, from July 20.

In a joint statement, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry and AIMTC said the strike has been called off. After the assurance from the government to look into transporters demand and constitute a high-level committee under the Road, Transport and Highways Secretary, the strike was called off, the statement said.

The decision was taken after a marathon meeting of transporters and senior Road Transport and Highways Ministry officials today.

Welcoming the decision, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government was "sensitive" to the demands. "We have already agreed to some of their demands earlier. For the rest demands, we have set up a high level committee," Gadkari tweeted.

As per the joint statement issued, Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has agreed the demand of review of premium for third party insurance for heavy vehicles and the government has agreed to devise a mechanism for seamless movement of transport vehicles across toll plazas.

Also, the government will explore possibility of extending health benefits under ESIC to the drivers and coworkers of the commercial vehicles and notify National Permit Scheme for tourist vehicles. The government also plans to extend coverage of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana to the drivers and coworkers of the commercial vehicles. The high level committee will look into issues such as E-way Bill implementation, GST related issues of the transport sector, rationalisation/ abolition of TDS rates, rationalisation of rates for presumptive tax on transport vehicles, seamless travel across the state borders and highways, Direct Port Delivery. Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal and AIMTC President S.K. Mittal were among those present in the discussion.

Transportation services to and from ports, refineries and industrial units have been stopped from July 20. The AIMTC had demanded that diesel be brought under the ambit of GST and tax structures like the e-way bill should be simplified. Essential commodities had been kept out of the strike. The strike, which had entered the eighth day on Friday, had impacted industries such as e-commerce, FMCG and automobile, besides hitting the supply of cotton, grains and spices also. Industry body Assocham on Friday said the strike had caused direct and indirect estimated loss worth over Rs 50,000 crore to the economy, with MSMEs being worst affected.