Dadagiri : Taxis and Autorickshaws
I found Uber to be such a business model where the passengers are happy and drivers are satisfied as they are the boss of their business, they get the advantage of using the infrastructure of Uber (including IT related), they operate as per their convenience with flexible timings, they don't have to stand in any long queues to get passengers, their weekly payments are assured with decent margins.
BUT the unions leaders of taxis and autos, as in the past, have resorted to hooliganism. This Dadagiri needs to be controlled on an urgent basis.
As most of us would have observed the high-handedness of taxis and autos everywhere.
Dadagiri No. 1 : They will choose any location of their choice... anywhere... and after putting some flag (called union flag) and a display board will call it a 'Stand'. This can be the gate of your society, mall, station, bus stops, markets, colleges etc., making it difficult for the normal traffic/pedestrians to move. Slowly, these Addas become centre of hooliganism and our ladies find it difficult to pass thru that area. They shout, fight, drink and create all sorts of nuisance. Administration rarely interferes as it is scared of their dadagiri. Societies mutely watch, not daring any action.
Dadagiri No. 2 : They force you to hire a cab or auto from that stand only not allowing any outside vehicle to pick up passengers from their vicinity.
Dadagiri No. 3 : Even if the rule says that more than 5 auto-rickshaw cannot be parked at a stand, an utter disregard to the rule can be seen at every stand where you find long queues of autos.
Dadagiri No. 4 : Charging flat rates and not as per meter. Administration is helpless as it is scared of their dadagiri.
Dadagiri No. 5 : Many a times, they will refuse to go to a particular destination. Its their choice not yours.
Dadagiri No. 6 : Any government rule, to discipline them, is not acceptable to them and they put union pressure to withdraw such rules.
Dadagiri No. 7 : Never respect the traffic rules. Traffic police is scared of touching them.
Dadagiri No. 8 : The condition of their vehicles can hardly be termed as road-worthy but no one has the guts to implement any law in this regard.
Dadagiri No. 9 : Unlike Uber, there is no KYC on the drivers. During odd hours (specially late nights), you just hire and sit without even knowing if the driver is a criminal or not and keeping your fingers crossed that you reach your destination safely.
I am sure, readers must be having many more examples of their dadagiris which I might have missed here.
The netas of their so called unions are instigating them and misguiding them to resort to assault on Uber vehicles. These netas are aware that with business models like Uber and Ola picking up, the number of their supporters/members will reduce and their political career will be coming to an end.
They should not forget that times changed earlier also when they had also replaced Victoria long time back.
World is changing and they need to adopt better ways of combating those challenges rather than adopting the tactics of black-mailing the solution providers and the passengers. Taxi business was never in an organised sector but thanks to companies like, Uber, Ola, Meru etc., which has resulted into benefits and safety to both passengers and drivers.
Its high time that the government takes strict action against these taxi and auto drivers for not resorting to black-mailing and assaults. more