Tamil Nadu's Transport Minister, S S Sivasankar, has assured that the pressing issues faced by truck owners in the state will be addressed through legal channels. The minister made this commitment during a significant gathering of lorry owners, setting the stage for potential government intervention ahead of a planned nationwide agitation.
Three Core Demands on the Table
The minister specifically outlined three primary demands from the trucking community that will be taken up with the concerned authorities. The first demand is the withdrawal of the increased fee for renewing heavy vehicle fitness certificates. Secondly, owners are seeking the scrapping of the hiked renewal fee for older vehicles. The third critical issue is ensuring timely payments from the government for services rendered by these transport operators.
Sivasankar delivered these assurances while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the general body meeting of the Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association. The event was held at the Paramathi Velur Lorry Owners Association building in Namakkal on Sunday.
Nationwide Protest and Proposed Resolution
The minister's statement comes at a crucial time, as lorry owners' associations across the country have called for a nationwide protest on December 9 to press for these demands. In response, Sivasankar detailed the government's planned course of action. He stated that appropriate measures would be formulated after discussions on the three demands are concluded.
Furthermore, he indicated that a legislative route would be explored. A resolution would be passed in the state assembly, similar to the approach taken with the new education policy, followed by seeking a solution through the courts.
Association Leadership and Political Commentary
The meeting, presided over by All India Motor Congress president Shanmugappa, also marked a change in guard for the local association. C Dhanraj was sworn in as president for a second term, while Sathyaiah and Nandagopal took oaths as the association's secretary and treasurer, respectively.
The event saw the presence of special guests including Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister Dr. M Mathivendhan and Tourism Minister R Rajendran. Minister Sivasankar used the platform to launch a political critique, accusing the Union government of encroaching on state autonomy. He claimed the central government is interfering in states' rights across sectors and is now attempting to seize control of the transport sector. He framed the state government's stance as a fight to protect its rightful jurisdiction.
With the December 9 protest looming, the state government's promise of legal and administrative action is a key development. The trucking industry in Tamil Nadu, a major logistics hub, awaits concrete steps to address their financial and operational grievances.
