Litem Eshi Ori

Pasighat, May 6: Around 150 Tata Magic and Jeeto Iris vehicle drivers operating between Ruksin and Pasighat and their families solely dependent on the income generated from tourism in the district are in deep distress as all tourist activities have remained standstill since imposition of the lockdown.
Though the District Transport Officer has provided relaxation for the movement of passenger vehicles with 50% occupancy of seats, business is still showing no sign of turnaround since demand is yet to pick up. More than 100 such vehicles were found parked in the stand on Tuesday, but almost no tourist or local approached the drivers when the normal feature is hiring of the taxis. As the monsoon is around the corner, tourism activities are expected to see a further dip.
One Tata Magic driver Vicky Moyong said he had no earnings since the last 45 days. “I'm unable to repay the loan borrowed from private lenders,” he said. 
East Siang Tata Magic and Jeeto Iris Union (ESTMJIU) rued that no concession has been provided for payment of loans, insurance and taxes and the lockdown has hit them really hard. Another Magic driver Biju Morang said their plight is not going to end so soon and there is no certainty that earnings will be restored to earlier levels once the lockdown is lifted. “There will still be apprehension among people to go out for shopping or visiting crowded places,” another owner-cum-driver Onom Saring said.
Not a single driver has been benefited from the government’s announcement of relief to workers in unorganised sectors, the drivers opined. “Government must consider our sufferings and announce a stimulus package for sustaining our livelihoods,” they unanimously emphasised.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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