Local drivers cry foul

IMPHAL, Aug 19 : Truck drivers who transport rice for FCI Regional Office, Imphal from Jiribam have raised strong objection over the policy of assigning their work to a new group from Assam.
With 40 to 50 vehicles from FCI, Golaghat transporting rice to Imphal since August 8, more than 200 drivers who used to transport rice from Jiribam to Imphal are left jobless and in distress as extended lockdown is fuelling their misery from the other side.
The policy of the FCI Regional Office, Imphal and Zonal Office, Guwahati to hire non local vehicles and drivers and to make the local drivers go jobless is nothing but a ploy to decapitate the local drivers, said a statement of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Worker's Union.
Works to local drivers have not been assigned since August 8 with the Zonal Office handing over their work to contractors in Assam. As such, transportation of rice is done straight from Golaghat to Imphal forcing the local drivers out of work.
These drivers are in dire straits as the COVID-19 crisis persists, it said while adding that the officials at the Zonal office are very inconsiderate.
Expressing strong suspicion of a hidden agenda over the new policy, the union said that it is a clear case of violation of local drivers' rights. Such breach of rights of the local drivers can never be tolerated, it said while adding that the association will be launching agitation if the unfair policy is not withdrawn at the earliest.
The union also sought help and intervention from CSOs considering their plight and the wrongdoings on the part of the officials concerned.