PANAJI
A day after launching its 2022 manifesto outlining 10 promises for Goa, the Trinamool Congress on Sunday assured a one-time financial grant of Rs 10,000 to all registered taxi drivers in the State.
The announcement and assurance was made by Rajya Sabha MP and AITC Goa co in-charge, Sushmita Dev, Goa TMC Youth President, Jayesh Shetgaonkar and Goa TMC candidate from Calangute, Anthony Menezes at a press conference held at the party office in Panaji.
Elaborating on the welfare measure promised in the TMC-MGP manifesto, Sushmita Dev said, “in consultation with taxi association members, we have decided to handhold a one-time payment of Rs 10,000 to thirty thousand taxi drivers in the State, which will help them kick back their livelihoods devastated by the last few years of Covid and State mismanagement”.
She also announced that within 100 days of the TMC-MGP alliance forming the government, all taxi drivers would be given a 100% refund on their meter installation charges.
She also said, “our immediate package will help taxi drivers come out of the deep economic and social crisis they have faced due to the lack of any welfare schemes by the current BJP dispensation”.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJP government’s failure to bring in any sustainable policy that addresses the basic concerns of taxi drivers, Sushmita Dev remarked, “as Home Minister Amit Shah enters the state of Goa, I would like to ask him how the government plans to incorporate revenue that comes from the tourism industry for drivers? What has the Chief Minister and the BJP government done for the taxi industry?”
Expressing his solidarity with the members of the taxi union, TMC Youth President Jayesh Shetgaonkar asserted, “taxi drivers are the vein of the tourism industry. Goa TMC has decided upon these welfare promises keeping in mind their long-term benefits, addressing crucial issues like education and healthcare for them as well as their families”.
TMC’s Calangute candidate Anthony Menezes noted, “as a fellow Goenkar, I want to help the taxi drivers by creating a proper system that caters to their specific needs. We will do whatever we can in our capacity to give our driver brothers a better life”.
