Rickshaw pullers decry Govt action
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 03 2011:
Whereas entry and parking of all kinds of rickshaws in Thangal Bazar have been prohibited from today, the All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Welfare Association have decried the same initiative of the Government contending that an alternative parking site be arranged first.
Earlier different spots of Thangal Bazar like Sani Mandir area, PC Jain area, Alu Gali, Dharamsala, Prajatantra road were used by rickshaw pullers as their parking lots.
But the Government has prohibited parking any rickshaws at these erstwhile parking zones without making any alternative arrangement.
Speaking to media persons about this prohibition at Manipur Press Club today, president of the All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Welfare Association L Subash reminded that the Transport Directorate issued an order in 2002 whereby 52 zones including Alu Gali, Dharamsala, PC Jain, Sani Mandir were designated as parking lots.
The Government's new order which bans parking at these zone is tantamount to forfeiting the means of livelihood of around 400 rickshaw pullers.
He also appealed to the Government to make an arrangement for parking rickshaws at the earliest.
Until an alternative parking space is given, no rickshaws would pass through Thangal Bazar and it is also banned from today, Subash declared.