Date:28/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/28/stories/2007012804920300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Hike in autorickshaw insurance opposed

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: Autorickshaw drivers led by CITU-affiliated Bhagat Singh Auto Drivers' Union staged a dharna in front of the collectorate here on Saturday in protest against the hike in third party insurance premium for autorickshaws. They took out a rally from CITU office to the collectorate before staging dharna.

Later, addressing a meeting, CITU district secretary M. Imtiaz said that some 30,000 families were dependent on autorickshaws in the district including 7,000 in Anantapur town.

Unemployment forced many educated youth from rural areas to eke out a living by running autorickshaws.

Frequent hike in petrol and diesel prices over the last three years and hike in road tax renewal charges has added to their problems.

The present hike of third party insurance premium from Rs. 982 to Rs. 2,600 would further burden them, he said.