Today I felt and understood the real meaning of "One India One Practice". I felt that the auto drivers of Delhi are rude and so choosy about which passengers to ferry, where to go and what to charge because of huge demand for such services in a place like Delhi where people are tripping off its brink. Most of you must had such bitter experiences where auto rickshaw driver wasn't going in the direction where you wanted to go (oh! my bad luck), overcharging ( dear see the inflation rates) and his meter seems to have died a premature death with no chances of revival. But now I know, its a universal practice here in India. You could find those rude and overcharging rickety autos and taxis in all major Indian cities.
Its what the METER JAM organised today, 12th August showed. People from around the country told their stories of when the auto or taxi drivers refused to carry them when they needed to be at some place urgently or when the little pocket money saved by the students for the next movie is demanded by the drivers because he will settle for no less. People pledged on www.meterjam.com not to hire the autos and taxis on Thursday to show THEIR unity against the auto and taxi unions. Ones who had cars ferried others to their places and many took buses and Metros to their destinations.Well, a staggering 37,000 people in Mumbai alone joined the campaign with Delhi being the second city from where large number of people also participated along with people from Bangalore and Chennai.
It was the first time that the harassed passengers around the county had a way of showing their anger and protest against these injustices happening everyday in every corner of the country. Our state governments issue special helpline numbers and guidelines against such illegal practices of the auto and taxi drivers but these numbers are defunct or inefficient everytime. Maybe it has just become another source of earning dirty money by our cops and transport officials. The campaign has given hope to the people and are already asking to hold such campaigns every month or even every day till such malpractices are weeded out.
If you also want to show your protest and be a part of this campaign against the dadagiri of auto and taxi drivers, voice your views and log on to meterjam.com and tell those rude drivers that they can no longer take us for granted and we are not at their mercy. Suffer No longer, No more.
By Rahul Bansal
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