Taxi drivers want the State government to come up with rules as in Tamil Nadu where hotels, resorts and homestays have to give their customers’ drivers certain facilities.
“I sleep in my car for ten days straight while on duty because no rooms are provided in hotels and resorts for drivers,” said Prasanth Babu, a cab driver from Bengaluru.
This is not an isolated incident. Most taxi drivers who travel out of town spend the night inside the car since hotels, resorts and homestays don’t offer them accommodation.
“For fifteen years, I have been driving but only a few passengers were sensitive enough to book a room for us. Many don’t care about us which leaves us sleeping in the car. Hotels and resorts don’t even provide separate toilets for us so we have to use public toilets,” Mr. Babu added.
Security
Recently, in Madikeri, Kodagu County there was an incident where a huge tree fell on a taxi that was parked at one of the leading resorts. The driver was lucky enough to escape unharmed. This caused an uproar among cabbies working at the resort over how they were being treated by its management.
Prithvi Raj, who drives cabs at that resort stated “We are forced to park our cars in unsafe areas though this place is known as Kodagu which experiences heavy rainfall resulting into falling of trees anytime. The staff of this resort is endangering our lives.” He went further “The washrooms and toilets available here too are pathetic; therefore no one can use them. Parking area is near garbage dump hence mosquitoes are all over there. It’s cruelty.”
T.N guidelines
Based on all these cases of ill-treatment against cab drivers, Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association now wants the government should put similar procedures like those operating in Tamil Nadu wherein hoteliers must give their guests’ chauffeurs some amenities.
In terms of notification released by the Housing and Urban Development Department, through the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971; and the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998; there should be a bed space for every car parking space required for guest rooms in a dormitory
The dormitory must have separate toilets and bathrooms attached to them for every eight beds. Only drivers of the guests should be accommodated here. The dormitories either should be on premises of hotel or lodge or can be within 250 meters from any boundary.
Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators’, “A similar rule should exist in Karnataka because it is one of the major states contributing to tourist business. Every day, our cab drivers face risks at their workplace. Cab drivers taking short rests by roadsides are frequently robbed/taken hostage. Most drivers who leave their families do not get proper food as these resorts are far away from towns.”
“The Government cannot overlook their contributions into tourism sector. There is need therefore for government to enact laws that will ensure hoteliers provide basic facilities to taxi operators,” added Mr. Holla.
Minister’s assurance
Meantime, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy admitted the problems faced by taxi drivers. “We are looking at the regulations we have framed in Tamil Nadu and other States and see whether they can be implemented in consultation with stakeholders,” he commented.
