The growing discontent among driver partners linked to cab aggregators in Bengaluru was evident as the drivers took to the streets to protest outside the Ola office on Thursday in the city’s Murgeshpalya.
Over 300 drivers had gathered outside the office and sat in silent protest. One of the drivers even tried to commit suicide by consuming poison during the protests, which began at around 2 pm.
“The driver was taken to Manipal Hospital and is in the ICU now. We are tired of Ola and Uber turning a blind eye towards the drivers’ plight. They came to us with false promises and now they want to take our lives too,” Pasha said.
According to Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola, TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association, the drivers are tired of cab aggregators blatantly violating government regulations.
The drivers demand is that Ola and Uber follow the fee structure fixed by the government and they also want the companies to stop carpooling services.
“Ola has been charging penalties for no reason at all. They have appointed a separate team, which slaps unnecessary allegations against drivers and deducts their earnings on the pretext of penalties. They had promised us that we would be able to earn Rs 1 lakh per month and we hardly make Rs 20,000. In addition, they are deducting more money as penalties. Should we live or die?” Pasha questioned.
Pasha claims that the cab aggregators have unfriendly incentive policies and demanded that the structure be changed.
On Wednesday, the auto drivers’ association, Ola TaxiForSure and Uber Drivers’ Association, KSTDC workers, CITU and AITU had held protests at Shantinagar Bus Stop demanding that cab aggregators follow government regulation.
“Ever since Ola and Uber became popular, we auto drivers have been unable to earn properly. We used to make Rs 30,000 per month earlier. Now we are struggling to make Rs 10,000,” said Abdul Suban of the Bengaluru Auto Drivers’ Association.
The Transport Commissioner, MK Aiyappa, on Wednesday, assured them that he would hold talks with all drivers’ association and representatives of Ola and Uber on March 3.
The disgruntled workers have, however, decided to go on an indefinite strike and observed the silent protest at Murgeshpalya.
(This story was published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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