Dimapur, July 30 : The introduction of mandatory uniforms for auto rickshaw drivers in Dimapur district is being pushed for the third time by the Dimapur district administration after it failed to implement it on two occasions previously.
According to the directive of the district’s Deputy Commissioner Kesonyu Yhome, starting from August 1, auto rickshaw commuters in Dimapur are not to pay fares to drivers who are not in the stipulated uniform.
Members of the public can lodge complaints with traffic personnel on duty or they may contact the establishment of the additional commissioner of police (traffic), the order stated. The order was necessitated considering that in spite of repeated reminders, many auto rickshaw drivers–often perceived by the public to be a disorderly service group–continue to ply without putting on their uniforms.
The Dimapur District Auto Drivers’ Union (DDADU), an organization representing the drivers, has welcomed the order of the district administration. However, the organization is skeptical if the administration was at all serious enough with their directive considering that administrative measures often see failures in Dimapur.
On Tuesday, DDADU officials interacted with Eastern Mirror. They said that the organization had been held responsible constantly by the district administration for the failure of the auto drivers failing to obey the administration.
Yet again, as most things in Nagaland would go, it is mostly the Naga or ‘local’ drivers that are the majority that refuses to wear their work clothes, the DDADU officials admitted.
‘If the district administration wants to introduce the system and make it continue efficiently, then they should strictly adhere to their directives,” the DDADU’s president Hokaito Zhimo said.
While the systems had been introduced by the district administration, on their part the union can only co-operate. However, they reminded, responsibility was for the authorities to ensure enforcement: the authorities should check whether or not the order was being complied with, the DDADU officials said.
Even the organization maintained an assertion that it was the ‘weakness’ on the part of the Dimapur administration that was responsible for failing to see to the implementation of said order.
On the issue of mandatory identification cards for auto rickshaw drivers, the DDADU’s president said that there were many auto rickshaws that were yet to obtain the cards. While some have obtained their IDs, Zhimo said, ‘the remaining’ will be delivered after the DDADU’s organizational elections.
The cards contain information including a number, license number, badge number, address and a photograph of the driver.
In this too, he said, there was no ‘proper checking’ or verification by the traffic police especially to filter out drivers who were in business without proper documents. They are let free which in turn generate more ‘disorder’ for the union, Zhimo said.
The auto rickshaw drivers’ leader also maintained that old vehicles were in the lot without proper documents. Traffic personnel should authenticate the errant drivers and ensure that auto rickshaw drivers follow rules and regulations that have been introduced by the authorities.
The DDADU remarked that the union was expecting the district administration to ‘streamline’ the system which, after all being said, was being introduced for the third time no less.
Readers may note here that on the 21st of May, 2014, the then deputy commissioner of Dimapur, N Hushili Sema, introduced the uniforms for auto rickshaw drivers. The whole idea was to check unauthorized drivers.
