Telangana Government Plans Welfare Board for Auto Drivers and Offers Electric Vehicle Subsidies

The State government will soon set up a welfare board for auto-rickshaw drivers to offer social security and welfare benefits. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka announced this plan on Saturday night during a dinner meeting with the Hyderabad City Auto Drivers' Associations JAC at Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad.

Welfare and Fares

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and SC Development Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar also attended the meeting. Mr. Bhatti stated that the government wants to solve transport workers' problems with a caring approach and noted that nearly 20 lakh families depend on this sector. The government recently raised the auto fare from ₹11 to ₹14 per kilometre after talking about it in the Cabinet. Mr. Bhatti blamed the past government for ignoring driver concerns during ten years of protests.

Electric Transition

The proposal for the welfare board was discussed in the Cabinet and will start after finishing the needed legal and funding steps. Officials also plan to look into other demands from transport workers. To help drivers switch from diesel autos to battery vehicles, the government set aside ₹200 crore under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam programme. This scheme gives a subsidy of ₹1.5 lakh per auto to push for cleaner electric, solar, and CNG vehicles in cities, with praise for Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar for his work on worker welfare.

Context

Welfare boards for informal workers are often set up by state governments in India to provide health insurance, pension support, and financial help for families. Auto-rickshaw drivers across major cities frequently face financial strain due to rising fuel costs and competition, making government subsidies for electric vehicles and fare revisions key political and economic issues.