AJRTDU, Jiribam refutes claim made by HITOWO
Source: The Sangai Express
Jiribam, January 21 2019:
The allegation made by Highway Truck Owner Welfare Organisation (HITOWO)that members of All Jiribam Road Transport Drivers Union (AJRTDU), Jiribam had collected money from the truck drivers was baseless and untrue, said vice-president of AJRTDU while speaking to the media persons.
The vice-president S Pratap Singh was speaking to the media persons today at the mobile check post of AJRTDU, Leingangpokpi, Jiribam at around 3.30 pm and said that the accusation made by HITOWO that AJRTDU, Jiribam were collecting money from the truck drivers that was reported in the local print and electronic media on January 19 is incorrect and misleading the public of Manipur.
He continued that an agreement was reached between truck drivers and AJRTDU, Jiribam in a meeting held in August 2018 in which it was agreed that the truck drivers will contribute some money in their capacity so that AJRTDU, Jiribam can help them out and their families when they are hit by unwanted incidents like accident, untimely death and other worse situations.
Accordingly, AJRTDU was collecting money from the truck drivers with their consent and not by force and proper receipt were issued while collecting the money, he added and said that HITOWO is unnecessarily interfering in the affair which was carried out as per the agreement.
Saying that weighing of loaded trucks plying along Jiribam to Imphal (NH-37) was carried out forcefully by HITOWO at the newly contracted weight bridge at Samupunbi (Gularthol) without an approval letter from the Govt, which AJRTDU, Jiribam came to know after an exhaustive inspection was done along with the general secretary and members of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers Union, vice-president S Pratap Singh appealed HITOWO to start issuing of computerized receipt instead of hand-written one.
While speaking with the drivers plying along the highway, one of them said that they are facing lots of inconveniences with the new weighing system of tracks at the weight bridge while expressing that they preferred AJRTDU, Jiribam to carry out full checking of the trucks as was agreed in the meeting held in August 2018 .