Krishnaiah demands compensation for driver's family

Hyderabad, Nov 17 (INN): TDP MLA and BC Welfare Association president R. Krishnaiah demanded that compensation be paid to the family members of Mohammed Zaheeruddin, an Uber driver, who committed suicide last year.

Addressing a day-long dharna organised by the Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA) in association with Telangana Cab Drivers & Owners Association (TCDOA) at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park on Thursday, Krishnaiah assured to take up the cause of drivers who are working with App-based Aggregators in the State. He said drivers, who purchased new vehicles to turn owners, were being cheated by companies like Uber and Ola. He expressed regret that one such driver, Zaheeruddin, committed suicide last year due to financial crisis. He advised the drivers not to resort to extreme steps and assured to represent their issues with the authorities.

TSCBOA president Syed Nizamuddin said that Zaheeruddin committed suicide on November 17, 2015, and since then several representations were made with the Uber authorities for compensation for his family. However, the Uber management played various tricks and did not pay a single rupee to Zaheeruddin's family. He said any management would have helped the driver's family at least on humanitarian grounds. But Uber management completely disowned the driver after he committed suicide. He asked drivers not to take steps like suicide and fight against injustices with their managements.

Zaheeruddin's widow, Noor Jahan Begum, who participated in the dharna, said that she was having two small girl children aged 18 months and 4 years was left in the lurch after her husband committed suicide. She said refusal of incentives and other payments by the Uber management forced her husband to commit suicide. Since then, she said she was not having any sources of income to feed the family. She said neither the authorities nor Uber management paid her any compensation nor provided her a job.

A. Aruna, widow of another Uber driver Kranti Kumar, also participated in the dharna. Her husband committed suicide on November 9 this year.

The meeting was also addressed by All India OBC Federation president Bhagya Lakshmi and other leaders of TSCBOA and TCDOA.

The drivers contributed Rs. 16,000/- cash on the occasion which was paid to Noor Jahan and Aruna. TSCBOA President Syed Nizamuddin has assured both the families that the Association would provide them necessary help whenever required.