Drivers' day celebrated statewide
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 14, 2012:
The 23rd Drivers Day was observed statewide by different organizations where people paid floral tributes to the departed souls of the drivers as a mark of respect.
The Manipur Drivers Welfare Association (MDWA) and the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (MPTDU) jointly celebrated Drivers Day at Manipur Press Club.
The function was graced by Ram Muivah, Principal Secretary, Works and Transport and H Chaoba, DTO, Bishnupur as the Chief Guest and President respectively.
N Jati, President, Drivers and Transporters Forum, Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh, President, MPTDU and Babudhon, President, MDWA were the Guest of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Ram Muivah said that we should treat the drivers with love and respect and never indulge in any sort of ill treatment to them.
Uptil now 51 drivers and 5 handymen have died in various fateful incidences.
And 12 drivers have retired from their profession on account of old age.
He further expressed that Manipur being a land-locked state, the role of drivers are enormous.
There are more than I lakh vehicles running in the state and as such there are above 1 lakh drivers in the state.
Recalling the dreadful incidents the drivers have to face during the recent economic blockades in Manipur, he said that the drivers of Manipur took all the risk and performed their duties.
In the act a number of them sustained injuries while some of them died.
The government, recognizing their sacrifices for the welfare of the people has also provided the family of the deceased with compensations.
He termed the torture matted out to the drivers and handymen's by some miscreants on the NH as "really unfortunate".
We should all understand the hardship and pain they are taking for the people of the state and help them in every little way we can.
Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh, speaking on the occasion appealed to the drivers not to consider only NH 2 and NH 37 as the only lifeline of the state and also to consider the other NHs including Imphal-Jeshami road and Imphal-Tipaimukh road.
He also appealed to the State and the Central government to mend the NH 37 and convert it into a double or triple lane at the earliest possible time.
The families of the deceased drivers and those drivers who have retired from their job were also presented with gifts on the occasion.