Drivers' Day celebration
Drivers urged not to ferry banned items
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 14: Along with celebration of Drivers' Day at different parts of the State, the departed drivers were honoured today amidst call to all the drivers not to smuggle in any banned subsistence for the sake of some monetary benefit.

Under the aegis of Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association, the Drivers' Day was celebrated along with organising a legal literacy awareness programme at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul here.

The chairman of Legal Services Authority of Imphal East and West Th Sudhir who attended the function as chief guest led the people in offering floral tributes to the departed drivers and their surviving family members were honoured with gifts and presents.

Floral tributes being paid to the departed drivers on the occasion of Drivers' Day

Speaking as guest of honour of the function, secretary of Manipur Truck Owners' Welfare Association Y Lokeshore highlighted the difficulties being faced by the drivers and the owners in Manipur today.

He also made a fervent appealed to all the drivers not to smuggle in any banned narcotic substances for the sake of some monetary gain.

As part of the celebration, a legal literacy awareness programme was also facilitated jointly by the Legal Services Authority of Imphal East and West and Drivers' Welfare Association.

Resource persons who spoke at the occasion elucidated on the dos and don'ts that all the drivers need to understand and follow under the relevant Motor Vehicle Act.

While expressing serious concern over the increasing rate of road related incidents in the State as a result of the failure of the officials concerned of the Motor Vehicle Department to verify properly at the time of issuing driving licenses to applicants who do not even have proper knowledge of driving, the resource persons observed that drivers who have been doing a yeomen service in transportation of essential goods and important personalities from one place to another should not be looked down upon.

All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union celebrated its 19th Drivers' Day at Khuman Lampak Bus terminus today with Health Minister Ph Parijat as chief guest, vice president of the Union S Mangoljao Singh as functional president and Director of MACS TR Kom as guest of honour.

After hoisting the flag of the Union by the chief guest to inaugurate the function, floral tributes were paid to the departed drivers.

Giving the key note address, general secretary of the Union highlighted the activities of the Union and said that the amount of the ex-gratia granted by the Election Commission as well as the insurance amount of driver Brahmacharimayum Binoy Sharma who was among the those killed in the ambush laid by unidentified persons while returning from election duty on February 15, 1998 has been provided to the bereaved family members.

Apart from this, the Union has been extending every possible assistance including pension benefits to drivers who are in need from time to time, he added.

Gifts were also presented to the family members of 171 departed drivers at the occasion.

Kha-Manipur Drivers and Motor Workers Co-operative Society, Kakching; Tiddim Road Drivers Union, Nambol Bazar; Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Drivers and Motor Workers Co-operative Union, Yourabung and Imphal-Ukhrul Road Drivers' Union, Imphal East also celebrated Drivers' Day.