Taxi driver associations say no to cooperatives

The transfer of ticket counters at taxi stands to cooperative societies has been protested by taxi driver associations. For now, they have decided to keep their protest in abeyance till 10 Oct when a mega-meeting is proposed to discuss the issue

Taxi driver associations in the state will now wait till 10 October before taking a decision on whether or not to go ahead with their proposed strike in protest against cooperative societies taking over their erstwhile positions in the taxi stands at the ticket counters.
The taxi drivers are protesting the decision of the state government to hand over the operations at the various taxi counters in the state to Cooperative Societies. In this regard, they had also threatened to call a statewide strike if this decision was not rolled back. It has been the taxi drivers’ associations which have been manning the ticket counters at the taxi stands all these years and it is no secret that it is a good business. It is not just the associations of east district, taxi driver associations of all four districts are united in their stand against this decision of the government, informed Kumar Thapa, Social Secretary, Main Line Taxi Drivers’ Association.
A meeting had been called in the office of the District Collector [East] on 24 September after which the aggrieved taxi drivers decided to wait till 10 October when, it is expected, a meeting will be held among the concerned departments and the drivers. It has been revealed that there was, in fact, a proposal put up to the government calling for the removal of taxi drivers’ associations from operating the ticket counters and allotting the same to cooperatives. Three state agencies had put up this proposal which include Motor Vehicles Department, UD&HD and the Municipal Corporation.
The taxi drivers are not just aggrieved at the decision of the government to hand over their business to cooperatives. Kumar Thapa informed that they are also aggrieved of the delay on the part of the concerned departments in renewing their registrations as taxi driver associations. The proposal for renewal had been put up to the departments for the renewal of their licenses to operate as associations but had yet to receive any response. Another demand put up by the taxi drivers’ associations seeks a ban on main line taxis operating without allegiance to any particular taxi stand. There are a number of taxis which operate to Siliguri and back and are not “registered” at any taxi stand. These taxis, according to Kumar Thapa, are detrimental to their business and need to be removed. In fact the demand is to have such taxis removed from the roads by 10 October as well.
The meeting of 24 September called by the DC-East Tsewang Gyatso was only to decide on another meeting, on 10 October, during which all the concerned agencies would be represented. The same set of grievances were also put up to the Chief Minister earlier and again on 26 September through the Principal Secretary, CMO. Earlier, the government had also proposed that the ticket counters be operated jointly by the cooperatives and taxi associations. This was rejected by the associations.

Cabbies provide free taxis for funeral services

GANGTOK, 06 Dec: Taking out time from their day jobs, members of the Titanic Local Taxi Drivers’ Welfare Association [TLTDWA] have been engaging in welfare activities in the Tadong area. Apart from helping members of the association during difficult times, the association has also been carrying out other social activities especially in Tadong.
One such initiative of the association is providing vehicles free of cost to bereaved homes for funeral service. The association has engaged 5 vehicles for this purpose.
TLTDWA members informed today that the association has already provided this service to 9 families so far and is doing the same for another bereaved family at Tadong tomorrow. This service is available to all households which fall between the Sikkim Government College jhora to 6th Mile.
“People of this area use our taxis daily, so in return we are trying to give back to the people,” said the cabbies. It is informed that the association plans to do a lot more for the welfare of the people in the future.
The association was registered earlier this year and has its office at Tadong Senior Secondary School Road. The association led by the president, Tara Thatal, has 107 members. The association has welcomed those in need to come to their office or contact them at 94745-30427.  
The association has carried out cleanliness and plantation drives in Tadong while members of the association also donate blood at the Central Referral Hospital.

Fed up cabbies repair Sichey road on their own

GANGTOK, 07 Oct: More than 200 drivers of the Ranka Stand Taxi Driver Association along with the drivers of District Court stand and Burtuk Helipad stand came together to mend the road from Ranka Stand to District Court and Burtuk Helipad today.
Most of the taxi driver’s earnings were going into the maintenance of the vehicles because of the bad road conditions, informed the drivers. The drivers also said that the bad road conditions also lead to accidents at times for which they are blamed.
The passengers are also not happy with the condition of this road as it connects the most important office in this part of town and also the Helipad, said the drivers. The cost of maintaining their vehicles has to be borne by them while the expenses for government vehicles is borne by the concerned department, rued the taxi drivers.
The drivers blamed the Road and Bridges Department for the condition of the road and added that several letters have been submitted to the government for the renovation of the road but action is still awaited.
The initiative is a completely non-political one mentioned the drivers and also thanked Superintendent of Police [SP] East and Deputy Superintendent of Police [DSP] East for providing material to cover the rough patches. They further expressed hope that the state government would look into the matter soon.

Chorten Deorali Local Taxi Drivers’ Assoc to celebrate Vishwakarma puja on somber note

GANGTOK, 16 Sept: Chorten Deorali Local Taxi Drivers’ Association [CDLTDA] has decided to organize this year’s Vishwakarma Puja on a low scale at its stand below Deorali Ropeway on 17 September in order to pay homage to the people who lost their lives in the earthquake last year. Instead, the association has announced a Sarva Dharma Puja at the same venue on 18 September for peace, tranquility and prosperity in the state and also to pay homage to the departed souls.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, CDLTDA president, Chung Chung Bhutia said that the puja this year is being organized on a somber note in view of the devastation caused by last year’s earthquake so there will not be any cultural programme.
He added that this time the association is organizing a Sarva Dharma puja in which prayers will be offered by religious leaders of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Sikh communities.
Mr Bhutia informed that 1000 butter lamps will be lit at the venue during the puja for the earthquake victims and people can also pay their respects by lighting these lamps.
This year’s pandal has been created based on the Sai Mandir of Namchi. The organizers have invited all the local people to be part of the puja.
Members of the association also carried out a cleanliness drive in Deorali on Saturday. Mr Bhutia mentioned that the association conducts such cleanliness drives from time-to-time, especially during Vishwakarma Puja.

11 taxis plying to North Sikkim challaned

GANGTOK, 18 July: A nakabandi at Chungthang by the Chungthang police resulted in 11 vehicles being challaned for not having proper documents for ferrying tourists towards North Sikkim. A total of 29 vehicles were checked and 11 were found to be plying without the required permits, it is informed.
Permits for the tourists themselves are issued by the SDM, Mangan but vehicle documents are also required to be verified. The police explain that this is necessary for vehicles travelling further into North Sikkim as the poor road conditions can lead to accidents.

Children Park Taxi Stand drivers go on strike protesting alleged assault on taxi driver by traffic constable

GANGTOK, 27 June: A taxi driver was allegedly assaulted by a lady constable of the Traffic Police at the Children Park local taxi stand this morning following which taxi drivers of the said stand went on strike in protest.
While speaking to NOW!, the driver in question, 23 year old Sachin Gurung, who drives a Maruti Alto and plies between Children Park Taxi Stand and Bojoghari Phatak, stated that on returning from Phatak as he was entering the Children Park taxi stand, a lady constable of the Traffic Police, stopped his vehicle and asked for the vehicle documents. He then told the lady constable that his papers were at the Motor Vehicles Department, hearing which she assaulted him while he was still on the wheels.
According to eye witnesses, it is learnt that the lady constable reacted after the vehicle rashly overtook other vehicles which were in line to enter the stand and when the taxi turned and came towards the entrance, she stopped the vehicle and asked the driver for the documents. When he could not produce them, she slapped the driver. On the other hand, the constable alleged that the driver drove over her feet.
“Whatever happened should not have taken place. In the first place, the lady constable should not have raised her hands on a driver when he was on duty. She should rather have reported to her senior officers or reported the offence at the Sadar Police Station nearby,” commented Chung Chung Bhutia [president, Central Joint Action Committee of Local Taxi Drivers Association, Gangtok], while speaking to NOW! today.
He further informed that after the incident, all the taxi drivers plying their vehicles from the said taxi stand went on a strike and stopped plying their vehicles. The drivers have demanded that the lady constable apologize to the driver she assaulted, he said and added that the situation was brought under control on the intervention of the Superintendent of Police [East] Dr MS Tuli and senior officers of the Traffic Police.
“We were asked by the SP [East] not to do anything rash or take things into our own hands and start plying our vehicles,” said the president adding that the SP [East] has asked them to file a report regarding the incident after two days as the Assembly session is in progress at present. The SP [East] has stated that after the report is filed he will personally call both the parties to his office and sort out the matter. The culprit will be punished and strict action will be taken against the guilty, he further added.
Meanwhile, a member of the Children Park Executive Welfare Association, NT Bhutia informed that they want action to be taken in writing by the SP [East] after he finds who is guilty, otherwise all taxis of the Children Park Taxi Stand will stop plying, he said.
It may be informed here that there are eight associations that operate out of the Children Park Taxi Stand. They are: Chandmari, Rongyek, JN Road, Phengla, Helipad-Luing, Vajra-Swastik, Phatak-Penlong and Laxmi Sweets. Following the incident, while some drivers had started to ply their vehicles, most chose to keep theirs off the road.

Leave no waste behind

GARBAGE BAGS DISTRIBUTED TO NATHULA-TSOMGO CABBIES
GANGTOK, 30 May: The Tourism Department, officials of the 3rd Mile Checkpost alongwith members of Live to Love organisation today distributed garbage bags to drivers of the vehicles taking tourists to Nathula and Tsomgo. An initiative of Live to Love, the bags were handed over by the Tourism and Forest Minister Bhim Dhungel.
In his welcome speech, the Joint Secretary [Tourism Department] Rinzing Chewang stated that as compared to other states of the country, Sikkim was still far more cleaner with regard to garbage and plastics, but this needs to be carried much further. The garbage bags are being distributed to the drivers who ply tourists to Nathula and Tsomgo Lake so that the tourists do not throw any garbage either on their way up or during their journey, he added.
The State government had taken out a Notification banning the use of plastic way back in 2006 and even banned use of plastic carry bags and since the drivers are the ones to interact with tourists firsthand they play an important role in making Sikkim plastic free, he said and added that most of the tourists throw garbage from the vehicle’s window during the journey, especially water bottles.
Mentioning that Sikkim has already been awarded the Campaign Clean India state award, he urged the drivers to carry these garbage bags in their vehicles. He further added that if the need arises then the Motor Vehicle Department and the police will be asked to monitor if the drivers are carrying garbage bags in their vehicles in the future.
He also congratulated the Live to Love organisation for taking such an initiative as this was the need of the hour and such an initiative was needed to keep Sikkim clean and green.
Speaking to NOW! the Tourism Minister, Bhim Dhungel informed that a model was being worked upon wherein a certain token amount will be taken from the tourists going to Nathula or Tsomgo on the items they carry and this amount will be refunded if all the waste is brought back in the carry bags, failing which the token amount will be used towards keeping the area clean.
The work will be carried out by JFMC and EDC members while the monitoring work will be done by the department field officers [ROs, Inspectors], who will be asked to do regular monitoring.
In order to draw tourists the department conducted some tourist festivals recently and the impact can be seen in the number of tourists coming to the State this season, stated the Minister. With this there has also been an increase in drivers from outside the state and these drivers do not know the rules and regulations of the State, so there is a need to inform them on these issues, he added. This he said will be done through various non governmental organisations.
Speaking on the issue of bad road conditions, the Minister said that the GREF and the BRO have been asked by the state government to ensure better road conditions, further adding that the BRO has assured an improvement in road conditions in the next one to two years.

Cabbies demand revision of fare rates in wake of petrol price hike

GANGTOK, 25 May: The increase in petrol prices has given rise to confusion regarding fares among taxi drivers in the capital who have long been demanding a revision of taxi fares with the Motor Vehicles wing of the Transport Department.
“Between the years 2006 to 2010 there was an increase in fuel prices ranging from Re. 01 to Rs. 05 and during that time we had approached the Motor Vehicles Division for revision of taxi fares and after much deliberation the department raised the taxi fares by 15% in2010. Even at that time we had asked for the hike to be between 30 to 50 per cent,” explained Chung Chung Bhutia [President, Central Joint Action Committee of Local Taxi Drivers Association, Gangtok], while speaking to the press here at Deorali today.
When the fuel prices increased by Rs. 5 last year, they had approached the department seeking another increase in taxi fares and even then the department had stated that another revised rate board would be worked out soon. The hike is still awaited and now petrol prices have been increased by another 10%, he added.
“Now the petrol prices have been increased by Rs. 7.30 per litre and we are still charging passengers at the old rate given to us by the department in 2010,” he said and added that now, with the increase in fuel prices, the drivers are at a loss regarding passenger fares.
“Now taxi drivers may start to charge passengers more and this will not go down well with the people and the drivers could face public ire,” expressed Mr. Bhutia adding that it would be the students and children who will suffer in the midst of this confusion.
“Even the traffic has been made one-way in many places, but we are still forced to charge the same rate as we do not have the much needed revised rate board and have to face the anger of the people when we do so,” he further stated.
Speaking on whether the taxi drivers association will be lending its support to the all India strike called on 31 May, he said that if the ‘common man’ stands up then they will definitely come out in support of the people adding that last year when they had held a meeting to discuss various issues regarding the plight of drivers, the meeting had been termed to be politically motivated, so they want to be cautious this time.
“It is high time that the department did something to revise the rate board. We have already written two or three times to the department regarding this issue since 2010,” added Lakpa Sherpa [general secretary of the association], while speaking to the press.
He suggested that it would be better if the department lift the VAT levied on petrol so that the price comes down by a few rupees or follow in Goa’s footsteps and not increase petrol prices at all. In order to avoid overcharging by taxi drivers, the department should take immediate action in view of the recent price hike, Mr Sherpa added.

Namchi taxi drivers start pre-paid system along sightseeing route

NAMCHI, 31 Jan: Local taxi drivers in Namchi have started a pre-paid shared/reserved taxi from Namchi bazaar to Siddhesvara Dham and other tourist spots. This has been done to manage and control traffic in the area better as at present individual taxis come from everywhere making the whole situation haphazard.
From now on vehicles or taxis used by tourists should be parked at the Parking Plaza, Namchi and the ferry system should be used by them. This system has been introduced by the Local Taxi Drivers Association, Namchi and would start uniformly for all the vehicles entering Namchi from outside or other places.
The Association has started the system with the support of Namchi Police. Keeping in mind the booming tourism and the traffic nuisance that has followed especially after the inauguration of the Siddesvara Dham.
The Association feels that this was necessary sooner or later and that if the condition of traffic and parking is a matter of concern now then it would surely be the same in the days to come especially during the festive season of ‘sawan’ along with other religious occasions and festive holidays.
While on the other hand this would also provide an opportunity for the taxi drivers to earn well.

Taxi drivers ‘dissatisfied’ with opening of taxi owners’ syndicates

GANGTOK, 13 Jan: Sikkim Vehicle Transport Welfare Organisation has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the opening of syndicates by taxi owners following the institution of the Taxi Owner’s Association recently.
At a meeting convened yesterday, president of the organization, Tinku Adhikari expressed dissatisfaction on the initiative of the taxi owners and stressed that these syndicates have severely affected the livelihood of taxi drivers.
He urged the owner’s association not to carry out such initiatives but contribute in the upliftment and progress of the drivers and further requested the concerned department to stop the process of opening syndicates. [from NANDU DUTRAJ]

Pakyong Greenfield Taxi Drivers Assoc forms Taxi Stand Committee

GANGTOK, 19 Dec: The annual meeting of Pakyong Greenfield (local) Taxi Drivers Association was held on 18 Dec at the shopping complex, Pakyong Bazaar, East Sikkim. The general secretary, Andrew Syangbo briefed the gathering on the issues taken up by the Joint Action Committee and expressed his hope that all the demands placed will be fulfilled soon.

Local Taxi Drivers and Owners Assoc prepare memorandum of demands for CM

GANGTOK, 02 Dec: The Central Joint Action Committee of Local Taxi Drivers and Owners Association has decided to submit a nine-point memorandum to the Chief Minister soon through the Chairman, All Sikkim Truck and Taxi Jeep Owner’s cum Drivers Joint Action Committee, TT Bhutia.

Cabbies unite to demand hike in taxi fare, roll back in HSRP price

CENTRAL JAC OF LOCAL TAXI DRIVERS CUM OWNERS ASSC CONVENES MASSIVE GENERAL MEETING

GANGTOK, 30 Nov: Following a general meeting held here today which emptied the capital of taxi, the Central Joint Action Committee [CJAC] of Local Taxi Driver’s cum Owners Association has decided to submit a memorandum to the State government on the agendas discussed at the meeting.

UNCOUTH DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO CHEAT AND ILL-TREATS TOURISTS

Letter:
I would like to raise concern among tourism entrepreneurs and other tourism stakeholders of Sikkim regarding the handling of tourists by taxi drivers ferrying them from Siliguri to Sikkim. Let me narrate an unfortunate incident I witnessed along NH 31A on 20 June 2011.
I boarded a share taxi, a maroon colored Spacio vehicle No. WB-73B-8095, at NJP bound for Gangtok. Other passengers in the vehicle were tourists visiting Sikkim. The vehicle started at around 4 a.m. in the morning. When we reached Birik Dara near Rambi, there was a landslide. After stopping the vehicle for around five minutes, the driver said that the road was not going to clear the whole day. Hence, he informed the passengers either to get down, cross the landslide zone on foot and walk till they get another taxi on the other side of the slide or travel via Darjeeling by paying Rs 400 extra per head. Or else he will drop everyone at Siliguri so that they can return to their home places. The tourists were helpless and did not know what would be the better option.

Taxi drivers object to SNT buses for sightseeing, confident that Gangtok-Darshan will be scrapped

GANGTOK, 05 May: The Central Joint Action Committee of the Local Taxi Driver’s Association [Gangtok] called on the Transport Minister, TT Bhutia, today and submitted an application seeking that the State government’s proposal to launch the Gangtok Darshan Bus Service in the capital be scrapped.
“After we learnt of the Gangtok Darshan bus service for tourists by the Sikkim Nationalised Transport [SNT], we immediately called on the Transport Minister,” informs Chung Chung Bhutia [president, CJAC of LTDA]. The Minister, in turn gavethem a verbal assurance that he would look into the matter and put the proposal on hold, the president added.
“Today, we called on the Minister again and have also put up a formal application regarding this matter, which was then forwarded to the Secretary, Transport Department, who sent the application to the Principal Chief Engineer and again has gone to the Minister for scrutiny,” the president said and added that the Minister has also assured to call on the Chief Minister and discuss the issue with him.