Kathmandu. Kathmandu: The Federation of Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs is going to actively participate in the ongoing agitation demanding protection and rights of the public transport sector. A working committee meeting of the Federation held today decided to actively participate in the protest programmes scheduled by the Save Public Transport Central Struggle Committee.
Fnj General Secretary Rajendra Bikram Baniya said the movement is being carried out under the banner of Save Public Transport Central Struggle Committee in coordination with four federations and four trade union organizations. As the programmes of the movement have already been made public, the Federation has requested all the member associations to participate in the scheduled programmes and play an active role.
Meanwhile, the struggle committee has also decided to hold a protest meeting at Maitighar Mandla at 12.30 pm tomorrow as part of the agitation. Kathmandu District Administration Office has been requested to provide space for participation in the program. In a letter submitted to the Chief District Officer, the committee urged the government to find a solution so that the public transport sector is very important from the economic, social and employment point of view of the country.
According to Hiralal Shrestha, president of the Federation, the regulations brought by the state governments are in conflict with the federal act, due to which the public transport sector is in danger of being displaced.
According to him, all the seven state governments have been bringing separate regulations against section 8 and 910 of section 12 of chapter 2 of the Motor Vehicles Act 2049 BS. He also reiterated his demand for the immediate repeal of Section 2 (J) of the Gandaki State Government Regulations 2082 BS which was published in the Gazette to operate private vehicles.
Stating that the incident of the suspension of the association committees in 2074 BS and the conversion of the property into a company had a huge impact on the public transport sector, he said that it was a similar unconstitutional attempt and it needed to be countered.
The entrepreneurs have also demanded the implementation of the agreements, agreements reached between the Government of Nepal and the Federation of Businessmen and the workers’ unions and the reports of the task force formed by the government as soon as possible while the amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act 2049 IS underway.
Similarly, the Supreme Court should implement the order given by the Supreme Court on April 20, 2080 under the Organization Registration Act, 2034, implement the carrying capacity of cargo vehicles in a strong way, make social security fund mandatory in the public transport sector, establish an accident relief fund by amending the Insurance Rate Guidelines 2073 and implement the TransportAtion Act.
The businessmen have also demanded immediate correction of the 72-hour unequal policy given to Nepali goods and passenger vehicles at the customs point while entering Nepal from neighbouring countries.
Entrepreneurs have warned that if the problem is not resolved through dialogue with the government, 1.3 trillion investments in the public transport sector and millions of jobs will be at risk. According to them, around 1.5 million people have direct employment across the country and 4 million families are connected to the public transport sector.
As per the agitation programme, the businessmen have threatened to launch an indefinite agitation by stacking public vehicles in garages across the country from May 15 if their demands are not met.
