Bike taxi riders plead to Karnataka Transport Minister to revoke service ban
The Bike Taxi Welfare Association made another emotional appeal to the Karnataka government, urging it not to continue with the ban on bike taxis. In a letter addressed to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, the association pleaded for resuming the services, highlighting the livelihood of thousands of riders who depend on them for survival.'We fold our hands and plead, please save our livelihoods,' the letter read. The association emphasised that bike taxi riders play an essential role in urban mobility, stating, 'We take people to hospitals, schools, and homes, whether it's raining or scorching hot.' They added that many riders earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 per month, enabling them to support their families.advertisementThe letter noted that a majority of those working as bike taxi riders and delivery personnel for companies such as Swiggy and Zepto in Bengaluru are degree holders. It argued that these services have become a crucial support system for the unemployed and underemployed, particularly in urban centres.
Riders said that the ban has devastated the lives of more than six lakh individuals in Karnataka who depended on bike taxis for income. Many families are now grappling with poverty, unable to afford groceries, pay rent or keep children in school.The ban came into effect in the wake of a recent Karnataka High Court verdict that upheld an earlier government order declaring the operations of bike taxi platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber Moto illegal, citing the lack of a clear regulatory framework. The Karnataka government enforced the ban starting June 16, following the High Court order. advertisementOn the day the ban came into effect and a crackdown began, the Namma Bike Taxi Association wrote to Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, emphasising the livelihood crisis for over one lakh riders.On June 25, over 5,000 bike taxi riders from across Karnataka rode in protest to Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha. A delegation from the Namma Bike Taxi Association submitted a petition to Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao again, reiterating their demands. The association has also written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking intervention to prevent what they described as a ban on the only means of income for many riders. They warned that halting bike taxi and e-commerce services would leave thousands of young professionals, including graduates in civil, mechanical, and software engineering, without employment.- Ends
IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru
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