Drivers on poll duty in Tamenglong upset
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 07 2022: Expressing discontent, drivers who were engaged for duty in Tamenglong district for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, 2022 have stated that they are averse to working again in Tamenglong district for any election.

Vehicles used for transporting the polling personnel and materials for election in Tamenglong district have mostly been requisitioned from Imphal with major chunk consisting of private vehicles.

These private vehicles were put into service despite their reluctance due to the instruction of Election Commission of India.

Speaking to TPC through phone, the drivers conveyed that they are very disheartened by the treatment meted to the vehicles requisitioned from Imphal for election duty by the district election officer and other subordinate staff.

They had to wait for long hours after reaching Tamenglong, not knowing where and to whom to report about their needs.

There was no proper arrangement of food and if enquired, district officials reacted with hostility, the drivers contended.

They also revealed that of being provided 10 litres of fuel per vehicle instead of giving them as per the travel distance, but few of the drivers who had connection filled the tank.

On asking for some advance money, the authorities distributed the remuneration as per their will.

Of all the districts in the state, Tamenglong is the only one where no driver is willing to go in every election.

This is due to the haphazard execution of works by the DEO Tamenglong subordinate staff and negligence towards the drivers used for election duty, they pointed out.

The drivers mentioned that most of the vehicles requisitioned from Imphal were engaged for election duty reluctantly due to fear that their vehicles will be seized, but looking at the manner in which the officials are treating the drivers, many feel that it would be better to let their vehicles be impounded, instead of going to Tamenglong district in the next election.

It can be mentioned that DEO provides fuel for the vehicles requisitioned for election duty as well as rent on per day basis.

The hiring rate ranges from Rs 723 per day for Tata Iris to Rs 5614 per day for interstate deluxe buses with the amount differing for every vehicle.

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