New Delhi: With the assembly elections due early next year, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday promised a Rs 10-lakh life insurance and an accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh for the city’s auto drivers. Kejriwal, who lunched with the family members of an auto driver in the Kondli constituency, also announced Rs 1 lakh as assistance to auto drivers for the marriage of their daughters.
The former chief minister said Rs 2,500 would be given twice yearly as the uniform allowance to auto drivers. He also assured their children of free coaching and the relaunch of PoochO app, which will let people access the database of the registered auto drivers’ mobile numbers and call them to book a ride. The database was developed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Model Transit System.
The elections to the 70-member assembly are due in Feb next year. AAP, pitted against BJP and Congress, is working hard to win it for the third consecutive full term. “Arvind Kejriwal’s first guarantee ahead of the assembly polls is Rs 10-lakh life insurance and Rs 5-lakh accident insurance for every auto driver if AAP govt comes to power,” the party stated.
Kejriwal said, “Auto drivers played a crucial role in my first election victory. I trust they will once again ensure every passenger votes for AAP, rally for us again.”
Sharing a video clip, AAP’s national convener posted on X, “Today, on the invitation of our auto driver brother Navneet from Delhi, I went to his house for lunch. I met his family, sat with them, and ate lunch. Their love and respect made me feel as if I was with my own family. Many thanks to Navneet bhai and his family for inviting us.”
Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that for the past 12 years, AAP had been deceiving auto drivers. “While Kejriwal calls them family, he has done nothing to improve their working conditions,” he alleged. “Whether during Covid-19 or today, Kejriwal govt has only sold dreams to the auto drivers,” he added.
BJP said Sachdeva, too, met some auto drivers at his office, heard their demands, and promised them that if the party came to power, it would bring meaningful change to the lives of auto drivers, which would be free school education. “Children of all licensed auto drivers will receive free school education and scholarships will be provided to those wishing to pursue higher education,” BJP stated.
A special scheme will be introduced for all auto drivers, offering them a life insurance coverage under Prime Minister’s initiatives starting from Sept 17, 2025, and those without their own houses will receive help under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
BJP also promised that in collaboration with the traffic police, ‘halt-and-go’ auto stands would be set up in all colonies and markets, and the drivers of e-autos would receive monthly electricity recharge subsidies for two years. “Committees, including two representatives of auto drivers, will be formed at all auto fitness centres to curb corruption,” it said.
