Protesting the move of the state government to stop them from plying, more than 3000 toto (e-rickshaw) drivers under the banner of the Paschimbanga Asangathita Trade Union Cell, a trade union of the BJP, today suspended services and held a demonstration in Raiganj this afternoon. Passengers in the town had to face problems in the absence of the totos on the roads.
The drivers demanded that the officials of the district administration not harass them “without any reason.”
The President of the North Dinajpur unit of the Paschimbanga Asangathita Trade Union Cell, Anirban Chakraborty, said, “Around 5000 unemployed youths are earning their livelihood by driving totos. A section of educated youths, after failing to land jobs, have chosen this profession. We came to know that the state government has already banned totos. We have a report that in our district, the administrative officials have decided to stop toto services. If this happens, several youths will be rendered jobless. In addition, a section of toto rickshaws were earlier given licenses by the authorities of the Raiganj municipality. We want administrative officials not to take action against them. Otherwise we will go for a stronger movement.”
The Vice-Chairman of the Trinamul Congress-led board of the Raiganj Municipality, Arindam Sarkar, however, said they have no report of any state government move to stop totos from plying in the district. “Some persons are unnecessarily creating chaos on the issue. If any move against totos starts in Raiganj, we will demand proper rehabilitation for the existing toto before that,” he said.