Mangalore: Auto drivers decry display card system fearing safety
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 21: The Dakshina Kannada auto drivers' association along with various other associations on Thursday November 21 staged a protest in front of deputy commissioner’s office against the newly launched auto rickshaw display system.
Prior to the protest, a rally was taken from Police lane, behind RTO office to deputy commissioner’s office.
The protestors alleged that some enemies of the auto drivers' community had been creating problems to them in their work and now, a new rule of compulsory display of identity card in every auto rickshaw has been introduced, further increasing their troubles.
Expressing fear of misuse of this rule by some elements, they said, "It is dangerous for an auto driver to mention his name, address, phone number and other details in the display card. The same enemies are plotting against our association leaders and are creating problem for all the pro-people associations.
"Pressure is put on police officials to book fake cases for petty matters against sincere leaders of our association, and at the same time, they are supporting this display card system so that getting our details becomes easier for them," they said.
Auto drivers' association convener Subhash Kavoor, other association leaders Sudatta Jain, Hemanath Konchady, Ramachandra, Ramesh Kotian, Ashok Shetty among others were part of the protest.
The display card system was launched by IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy in Udupi on November 1. The project was implemented throughout Udupi district on a pilot basis with immediate effect and is to be extended to Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Chikmagalur soon.
As per the new rule, every auto and taxi driver should enrol himself in the 'travel safety register' in the police station in his area. The sub-inspector in every station will scrutinize the registration form and provide a display card with a unique identity number. This card will include all the details about the driver and help the passenger to identify him. If the passenger finds that the driver and the display card do not match, a complaint can be sent on the spot (mentioned in the display card), and immediate action will be taken.