Thiruvananthapuram :The centre’s vehicle scrapping policy spells huge setback to transport workers. 22,18,454 vehicles face potential scraping in Kerala alone. There are 7,23,426 commercial and 14,95,028 private vehicles in the state exceeding the expiry period of 15 and 20 years respectively. Although the draft policy provides for commercial vehicles to undergo test after 15 years and be allowed another 5-yearf life if found fit , that would be difficult in practice.
Worst hit by the policy would be people who run taxi for a livelihood. For people reeling from covid conditions and existent loans, it would be almost impossible to buy another vehicle in place of the one going to scrap yard. If the real aim is to cut down pollution, the government should be promoting green fuel instead, said vehicle workers’ unions. The government policy goal is to help giant automobile makers, said All India Raod Transport Workers Federation General Secretary, KK Divakaran. It aims to corporatise the automobile sector. The government should withdraw this anti-worker policy, he added.
The final notification on the centre’s new policy is likely to be published soon. The centre’s new policy is unscientific and impractical, said Transport Minister Antony Raju.
