UT News Service | Imphal, August 10: Drivers of inter-state trucks transporting essential commodities in Manipur amid COVID-19 lockdown set a seven-day deadline to the state government to address their grievances.
The drivers who staged a protest in front of Imphal’s Inter-state Bus Terminus on Monday alleged that the state government had failed to translate into work the demands they had forwarded. Among others, the drivers are demanding a special COVID-19 testing facility for them. Other key demands include a government policy to compensate drivers and handymen in case of fatality while discharging their duties, making special arrangements for filling up their fuel tanks and proper vehicle servicing facilities while moving along the highways.
During the protest staged on the street in front of the ISBT, the drivers told reporters that, despite the hardships faced by them while servicing amid the COVID-19 crisis, the state government remained adamant to their demands.
A leader of the driver said that they are not able to visit home even if they passed the medical screening conducted by the healthcare authorities while reaching Imphal. Not only residents of their locality but even family members stayed away when they visited home as they did not undergo testing for the virus.
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