Odisha govt addresses demands of protesting drivers’ union, fails to end deadlock as strike continues

After multiple rounds of high-level discussions that stretched late into Monday evening, Odisha government officials and representatives of the ‘All Odisha Driver Mahasangha (Union)’ failed to arrive at a concrete resolution to end the ongoing state-wide drivers’ and transportation workers’ strike.

Sources reported that despite back-to-back meetings, including a three-and-a-half-hour discussion at the Transport Minister’s residence and a separate two-and-a-half-hour session at Kharavela Bhavan in Bhubaneswar involving senior bureaucrats, no final agreement has been reached.

Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena, who chaired the meetings, stated that the government has taken the drivers’ demands seriously and assured that several key proposals are under active consideration.

Among the proposals discussed were the inclusion of auto-rickshaw drivers in the Driver Welfare Board and the construction of toilets along every 100-km stretch of state highways.

Action against those who assault drivers and preferential hiring of Odia drivers in mining zones were also discussed. The government has also shown openness to recognising September 1 as Driver’s Day, one of the symbolic demands raised by the union, said the Transport Minister.

“There were demands to include auto rickshaw drivers as part of the association and work for their welfare. The same was discussed and has been taken up by the government. We have also worked on a framework to allow maximum reservations for state drivers in mining areas,” said Minister Jena.

Ball Now in Drivers' Court, Says Transport Minister

“Constructive dialogue has taken place. We’ve addressed their concerns with the seriousness they deserve,” said Minister Bibhuti Jena. “The government is committed to improving driver welfare and infrastructure. I now hope that the drivers will call off their protests,” he added.

However, the deadlock continues, and the responsibility of calling off the strike now appears to rest with the drivers’ union leadership.

The absence of union president Prashant Menduli at the meetings, however, added a layer of uncertainty.

While 30 district-level representatives of the Mahasangha were present, Menduli was conspicuously missing. Aditya Behera, the union's treasurer who attended the meetings, told reporters, “Our president will announce whether the strike will continue. No decision has been taken yet.”

Meanwhile, a Bharat Bandh on Wednesday has added to the woes of daily commuters with a concrete solution yet in sight.