Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 21: The auto drivers of city are all set to follow Ahmadabad IIM student’s model for earning extra income from digital advertising and social security and have proposed to float Kudla Souharda Sahakari Niyamit for the purpose.
Under the aegis of Dakshina Kannada Auto Rickshaw Chalakara Sangha (ARCS), promoters and auto rickshaw drivers and owners have resolved to raise an estimated 30 lac initial share capital in a pre kick off meeting held here in Nasik Bangera Sabha Bhavan, Police Lane Mangalore, here on Saturady June, 20.
“All over India auto drivers continue to struggle for day to day living and good housing. The higher education for children is a distant dream. After a yearlong discussion with hundreds of auto drivers and mentors, we have opted for Ahmadabad model, developed by Ahmadabad IIM student who works for the betterment of auto drivers of that city”, said U Mohanchnadra, noted theatre artiste and social activist, after initiating the discussion on floating a cooperative.
“The IIM student developed an innovative model of revenue and social security for auto drivers of Ahmadabad city in which drivers earned extra money by displaying digital advertisements on the autos and his company mobilised some social security benefits for auto drivers family like loan, health scheme, insurance, education loan etc”, Mohanchandra explained.
For implementing this innovative project here in Mangalore city eleven auto drivers came forward as promoters of the proposed Kudla Souharda Sahakari and raised share capital to the tune of Rs 15 lac.
“We are aiming to collect a total of 30 lac and more than 750 members in the next two months”, said one of the promoters Prakash, an auto union leader.
“The government policies are not beneficial to auto drivers and workers of this unorganised sector who face lack of social security even after the implementation of some measures for unorganised workers”, lamented Auto Drivers Association honorary president, Hasan Ali.
“By becoming member of this society auto drivers and owners automatically become eligible for availing Yashasvini health scheme benefits as this scheme is meant only for cooperative society members. Other than this, members are eligible for group insurance, pension scheme, centrally sponsored insurance, education loan, self employment loan, short term loan, personal loan etc”, explained P Ramachandra Rao, director of Karnataka Health Foundation.
President of Auto Drivers Association Alfonse D’souza presided over the discussion and Umashankar Pervody of Azim Premji foundation spoke on the occasion. The chairman of the association, Ashok Konchady initiated the discussion.