Demanding for basic rights, city auto rickshaw panchyat has called an indefinite strike. Due to this strike, travelers and commuters are going through an ordeal as it is difficult for every one to reach their offices on time. The strike has compelled them to rely on city buses or private vehicles.

Dr Baba Adhav, the president of Rickshaw Panchayat said that they are not asking for a fortune, they are just asking for the basic rights they deserve.

Earlier we hiked Rs 1 per km, but later it had to be cut as the petrol prices were pulled down. But now again the Union ministry has hiked the petrol prices to its previous price, so why shouldn’t we be given the same hike of Rs 1 per km?

However, the state government has suggested to all the ricksawa panchyat in the state to follow a certain dress code while driving. It believes that following a dress code is a sign of developed and disciplined society, sources said.

Replying to the state government’s suggestions, a member of Catturshrungi Rickshaw Panchayat, Ashok Bandal said,

We respect state government’s decision and will also think over implementing that. We too have some concerns like we need hike of Rs 1 per km, the status of public servant along with all the facilities public servants get like medical, right to defend our self if anybody dares to harm us. If the state government is ready to fulfill our all demands, we are ready to follow the dress code

he said.

State government, in association with local civic bodies, is playing a game with us. We had put on registered boards at each rickshaw panchyat that show our registered number and the member body, but civic body has blacken those registered boards and have put new one. This is a conspiracy going on against us so as to shatter our unity. Once its done, they will make us do whatever they feel like

said Venkatesh Podar, a member of the Catturshrungi Rickshaw Panchayat.

When asked whether when they will finish the strike, Bapu Madane, a member of Aundh Rickshaw Panchayat said,

Unless government fulfills our demand, we will continue with the strike.

“If anything urgent situation comes we have to carry out that passenger to his/her destination considering the humanitarian values,” said Sanjay Deshmukh a rickshaw driver.