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Bhubaneswar, Dec 13: The Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015 in its present form will not benefit the transport sector, according to the All Orissa Transport Workers Federation (AOTWF).
“The government must set up an expert a committee for framing legislation like the Road Transport and Safety Bill. The Bill in the current form will not be beneficial to the transport sector of the country and we will protest against it,” AOTWF president Janardan Pati said at a state-level convention organised by it on the topic here Sunday.
The Centre failed to take many state governments into confidence while framing the Bill, though the legislation will come under the concurrent list. Many state governments have opposed the Bill and have already asked the central government to redraft it.
“Our constitution guarantees a federal system where the opinions and suggestions of the state government are also considered. However, the central government has taken a unilateral decision that will affect our democratic structure,” said Prafulla Kumar Mallik, minister of state (independent charge), steel & mines, labour & employees state insurance.
Most of the transport workers unions and leading political parties in the state have criticised the bill. The unions and political parties have said that it will adversely affect millions of workers in the transport sector.
“The government, through this Bill, is trying to help corporate houses. In the current form, this Bill will adversely affect the transport sector, especially the workers. The central government is working against the interests of the people of this country,” said Bishu Mohanty, general secretary, CITU, Orissa. Trade union leaders have said the country is likely to witness a nationwide transport strike if the Bill is passed in its current form.
