Last week, Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh witnessed an unusual sight. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM and JanaSena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan, and state minister Nara Lokesh took auto rides to launch the “Auto Driver Sevalo (in the service of auto drivers)” scheme.
Over the years, auto drivers in the state, estimated to be around three lakh, have emerged as a key voting bloc both for the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which provided an annual financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to them under the “Vahana Mitra” scheme during its tenure.
“Just like Delhi’s 90,000-odd auto drivers were seen as key to the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), there is enough evidence to suggest that they, along with taxi drivers and owners, have emerged as a distinct voting bloc,” a TDP leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Naidu, who governs Andhra in alliance with the JSP and the BJP, has gone a step further to consolidate support among auto drivers. He has promised an annual aid of Rs 15,000 for eligible beneficiaries, set up a grievance redress system to resolve disbursal issues, established a drivers’ welfare board, and reduced the green tax imposed by the Jagan dispensation from Rs 20,000 to Rs 3,000. The government has earmarked Rs 436 crore for the scheme.
According to the state government, the “Auto Driver Sevalo” will benefit 2,25,621 autorickshaw drivers, 38,576 passenger vehicle drivers, 20,072 moto cab drivers, and 6,400 maxi cab drivers.
“The autorickshaw drivers are happy with the TDP government as we have maintained roads and law and order in the state. We want to build confidence among them that the TDP government is firmly with them and will support their livelihood,” TDP state president Palla Srinivas Rao told The Indian Express.
Sources in the TDP said the Naidu-led government launched the “Auto Driver Sevalo” scheme after its free bus service for women — launched in August and christened Stree Shakti — saw success. “The Stree Shakti scheme was affecting the earnings of auto drivers, and similar assistance for autorickshaw drivers was necessary to maintain the balance,” a source said, adding that around 18 lakh women benefit from Stree Shakti daily.
The YSRCP, however, is unimpressed and has accused the Naidu government of “mimicking Vahana Mitra”. Claiming that his party identified autorickshaw drivers as a voting bloc much earlier than the TDP and targeting the government for going back on its pre-poll promise, YSRCP leader P Gautam Reddy said, “Naidu and Lokesh promised Rs 15,000 annually to every badge-holding driver. Today, there are at least 15 lakh eligible drivers, but the scheme has been restricted to just 2.9 lakh. Against a commitment of Rs 2,250 crore, the government has released only Rs 436 crore. This means nearly 80% of drivers have been excluded.”
Alleging bias in aid disbursal, another YSRCP leader claimed that autorickshaw drivers were disappointed with the scheme. “The TDP launched the scheme only because it was pressured by the YSRCP and its associate unions. Several auto drivers have complained about preferential treatment being given to members of unions supported by the TDP.”
Autorickshaw unions have adopted a wait-and-watch approach. “On the face of it, the scheme seems fine, but its implementation will be key. If there is bias in selecting beneficiaries as alleged by the YSRCP, the scheme will not serve its purpose. A clearer picture will emerge only after a few months,” said a Kadapa district office-bearer of the Congress-affiliated Andhra Pradesh Autorickshaw Drivers and Workers Federation on the condition of anonymity.
President of the auto union in Gannavaram, Ch Kondandarao urged the government to disburse aid to all beneficiaries. “So far, only a few have got the benefits of the scheme. We request the government to release it for all eligible beneficiaries,” he said.