8,565 drivers to benefit in Prakasam: A Suresh

Ongole: Education Minister Dr Adimulapu Suresh announced that the State government is committed to provide benefits to drivers-cum-owners of auto-rickshaw, taxi and maxi cab by providing Rs 10000 as monetary help.

Launching the Vahana Mitra scheme here on Friday, the minister said that the government was releasing Rs 10,000 as monetary help to drivers-cum-owners to fulfill the promise made by the Chief Minister during his padayatra to auto-rickshaw drivers.

He announced that 1,75,352 drivers-cum-owners, irrespective of their caste and creed, were benefitted under the scheme. He said that 8,704 people have applied for the benefit in Prakasam district but the officials found 8,565 persons were eligible under the scheme and all of them would receive Rs 10,000 aid immediately in their bank accounts. He advised them to utilise the amount for the repairs, licenses, fitness certificates, insurances and other needs.

Collector Dr Pola Bhaskara said that the government had prepared welfare schemes for the benefit of all sections of society and added the transport field plays a crucial role in the development of industrial and agriculture fields and advised the drivers-cum-owners to utilise the scheme.

Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Giddalur MLA Anna Rambabu, Markapuram former MLA Janke Venkata Reddy and Ongole YSRCP president Singaraju Venkatarao participated in the programme.