Editor,
Through your esteemed daily I would like to express my concerns regarding the ongoing scenario in our State – the local commercial vehicles strike. This has been going on for 10 days now (and counting). It has created much discomfort for the public. It’s understood that the reason for their call for the protest is due to the sudden hike in the price of fuel (both petrol and diesel) which has witnessed a record high of about ₹90 per litre. Yes, it is understood that the State Government must levy taxes on gasoline but the illogical and absurd amount which it is taxing on this product is really beyond anyone’s comprehension. We all know that the Covid-19 pandemic has hit our national economy hard thereby affecting all States without exception. But do our authorities not know or care to remember that the ones who are hit worst are in fact the poorest section which comprises the majority in our society? So how will this means of extracting high revenue from a commodity which all sections of our society are dependent upon, bring relief to the common people at a time when things are supposed to be gradually heading back to normalcy? In fact, this action will exacerbate the sufferings of the general public because commercial vehicle drivers are hiking their fares to more than double from what it used to be. Also this will lead to inflation of prices of all essential commodities mainly the groceries and other agricultural produce which are things that we consume on a daily basis.
Let’s also ponder upon this extremely important aspect as we are heading towards gradual reopening of schools and educational institutions which are now coming up with schedules for different examinations. Internal promotion exams as well as Board Exams and University Semester End Exams etc., are scheduled to be held soon. Most students rely on commercial vehicles to commute to their schools, colleges, etc., so this hike in petrol prices which I have mentioned earlier will lead to increase in fares. This will hugely impact the wallets of the parents of these students. Not to forget that a majority of these kids have already been missing on important classes since the strike as they may not have been born with the luxury of private vehicle owning parents.
The funny side of all this is that the State Authority is turning a deaf ear to the strike which according to me, (and also I hope I speak for most if not all the common people), is a matter of grave urgency which needs to be resolved as soon as possible. The moves that the Government has made of permitting all even/odd vehicle numbers to resume plying on a daily basis and also allowing the seating capacity to be back to what it was during pre-Covid times are unhealthy. Then the rolling back of fuel price a few days back by ₹ 2 which less than a week later (Friday Feb 12, 2021) has now again risen to ₹ 90 per liter is a nonsensical joke and a stupid ploy to try to appease the ongoing protesters by fooling the public. So through this letter I would like to tell the Government to stop the pranks and deal with the issue in a manner which will really satisfy all and not bring further discomfort and affect the livelihoods of our people.
Go ahead and increase your taxes on liquor and beverages once again (over the previous revision of 25%) and also on cigarretes or any other tobacco products as well as many other countless non-essential luxury products too – We don’t mind! But lower the cost of fuel and do not justify the absurd hikes by simply employing the tactics of revising the rates of fares which will hurt us the public even more. Last but not least, I would like urge the different Associations of Commercial Vehicle Drivers in our State and to each and every individual taxi driver too to please make sure that your protest and demands are for the betterment of all the people and not make bad calls that will benefit only yourselves at the cost of the common people. In the context of the plea for rebate on the amount of various taxes levied by the Government in view of the pandemic situation, I would like to express my full agreement and hope that it is heard and acted upon in your favour.
Let’s remember that we all need and depend on each other, for just as you all would rue to us when you’re having a bad day in your line of work (as we used to hear in our local dialect, “Ym biang kamai bad khlem lait wat tang bai umphniang ne bai malik ruh namar ba duna passenger palat mynta ka sngi”) so also when there’s shortage of commercial transport the public’s lives are affected.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email