The youth wing of the KHNAM today said that the ban on bike taxi services in East Khasi Hills has caused an increase in youth unemployment.
The ban was enacted earlier this month when the Regional Transport Authority for East Khasi Hills banned bike taxis if certain conditions are not met. Two major bike taxi operators are active in the state – Rapido and Uber Moto.
The ban is unwelcome, KHNAM youth wing leader Thomas Passah said, especially as it comes at a time “when the state is fighting the biggest problem of unemployment and an economic crisis.”
Passah also said that if the state government considered the “right to work” as well as the Motor Vehicles Act, it would come down in favour of the bike taxi services.
He also reminded that the Chief Minister repeatedly encourages the youth to be self-employed and bike taxi services are a kind of example of this.
“If policies are not put in place for the bikes then it will seem like the government is not really interested in uplifting our unemployed youth. Many states have already put in place rules, guidelines, policies for bike taxis, so why can’t our state do the same?” Passah questioned.
