Lok Sabha Question No. 1478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-26
Subject: Exploitation by Enforcement Agencies to Truckers
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1478

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  JULY, 2022/SRAVANA 4, 1944 (SAKA)

EXPLOITATION BY ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO TRUCKERS

1478.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the truckers face constant threat of exploitation by law enforcement agencies;
- (b) if so, whether majority of divers do not get social security benefits;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  National  Human  Rights  Commission  (NHRC)  has  issued advisory to various Ministries and asked their implementation;
- (d) whether any time limit has been given to these Ministries for implementation of advisory and submitting action taken report; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (b):  The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has undertaken multiple policy reforms and initiatives to ease the challenges faced by Truck Drivers in the country. The details are placed in Annexure.

(c) to (e): National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued advisory to various Central Government Ministries and all State Governments and Union territories on protection of Human Rights of Truck Drivers and has asked for an  Action Taken Report.

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Information in respect of part (a) to (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1478 for 26.07.2022 Statement Showing multiple policy reforms and initiatives implemented to ease challenges faced by Truck Drivers in the country

1. Digitization  of  tolling  on  Highways  through FASTag -  FASTag has been mandated in M&N categories  of  Motor  vehicles.  All  lanes  on  National  Highway  fee  plazas  have  been  declared  as FASTag Lanes w.e.f. 16.02.2021.
2. Rules for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety vide G.S.R. 575 (E) dated 11.08.2021Electronic enforcement devices' usage to identify traffic offenders & issue challans with body wearable cameras, speed cameras, Weigh in Motion etc have been mandated. Rules for state  governments  to  install  electronic  enforcement  devices  at  key  junctions/National  and  State highways have also been notified.
3. On-the-spot Challan through eChallan - Reforms have been introduced to enable the generation of on-the-spot eChallan by Traffic Police for traffic violations and to followup. The same has been mandated for 132 cities across 26 States as notified vide GSR 575 (E) dated 11.08.2021.
4. Portal  for  check  post  tax  payment  services -  Common  platform  for  check-post  tax  payment services to the drivers has been introduced in 'Check post' module of VAHAN portal.
5. Portal for National Register of Vehicles and Licenses - National Register of DL & RC has been introduced  for  collation  of  vehicle  and  license  data  at  the  national  level  to  facilitate  DL/RC services from anywhere.
6. Transport related services on mParivahan App, and portal for Online Learners' Testing -mParivahan app has been introduced with features to avail transport related services like payment of  Road Tax, appointment with RTO, uploading documents etc. for citizens. Provision enabling motor  vehicle  drivers  to  furnish  electronic  form  of  documents  when  demanded  by  authorized police officer, through Digilocker / m-Parivahan app has been implemented, as per GSR 1081 (E) dated 02.11.2018.
7. SARATHI is one stop portal to apply for online learners' test, DL application and renewal and other related services.
8. Grant  of  National  Permit  for  goods  vehicles  online -Issuance  of  Permit  has  been  digitized through VAHAN database, to reduce hassle for Transporters/drivers for applying and obtaining Permits.
9. Facilitation  of  inter-country  movement  of  goods  and  passenger  vehicles -Standardization of regulation for  movement  of  goods  and  passenger  vehicles  from  neighbouring  countries  as  'The Inter-country Transport Vehicles Rules, 2021' has been notified on 15.01.2021.
10. Portal for Pollution under Control Certificate service - Portal has been introduced for availing Pollution Under Control related services online. Relevant features are incorporated in PUC module of VAHAN portal, as notified in GSR 527(E) dated 06.06.2018. Further, a standard format of PUC certificate has been introduced across nation vide GSR 410(E) dated 14.06.2021.
11. Increase of currency of certificate of fitness vide GSR 1081(E) dated 02.11.2018 - Increase of currency of certificate of fitness from one to two years till the vehicle attains the age of 8 years has reduced burden of compliance on business, truck drivers and RTOs.
12. Online  Aadhaar  Authentication  for  contact-less  facilitation  of  citizen  centric  services -Single step online Aadhar validation process has been introduced to avail citizen centric services favouring  ease  of  life  of  citizens,  including  truck  drivers  vide  Notification  GSR  240  dated 31.03.2021 and Statutory order no. 1026 dated 03.03.2021.