The government has sounded a loud and clear warning to the taxi operators in Goa not to indulge in any violence on the day they keep their cabs off the road. The action the government has warned them of, includes suspension of their licences or subsidy benefits and initiating criminal proceedings, against those operators who could resort to violence during the strike. The government has also invoked ESMA and the Transport Minister has termed the strike illegal as the union did not give proper intimation or notice to the government of their intentions, and said that the taxi operators have ‘crossed the line’.
Another MLA, who is the chairperson of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, has said that harsh decisions have to be taken and a strong message has to go out to the taxi operators who cannot hold the tourism industry to ransom. On the eve of the strike, there was the announcement that Goa Tourism Development Corporation is keeping its options open on introducing taxi services like Ola and Uber, which are app-based, if the taxi operators in the State continue to hold the tourism industry to ransom.
The government has responded strongly to the strike call. It is interesting that the Transport Minister went on to say that the government has supported the taxi operators in ‘every possible way’ but despite all the facilities given to them, helping them and meeting half their demands, the operators have still called the strike in protest. The taxi operators, on the other hand, claim the strike has been called to protest the installation of speed governors in their vehicles as well as harassment by police and transport authorities. Where speed governors are concerned, there is little that the government here can do, as this has been mandated to be introduced in all States and Goa has actually been lagging behind in getting them installed in the taxis in the State.
With the strike being termed illegal, the government could have initiated tough action to break it, but has not, despite having invoked ESMA. This indicates that the government, while being stern is also being polite, so the possibility of talks between the two and a solution to the issues can be worked out. Given the circumstances, it should, as over the years, Goa has been facing constant strikes and revolts from the taxi operators in the State. This is not the first strike called by the taxi operators and will probably not be the last. The Goan economy, being considerably dependent on tourism, takes a beating every time such a strike is called, and the tourism industry faces losses, a fact that the tourism industry is not too happy about. A strong message has been sent by the government, it is for the taxi operators to respond to it.
Yet, at the same time the government has also made arrangements to ensure that the tourists and the people in general do not suffer with a traffic mobility plan for the day. The administration will be putting on the roads extra buses and 1000 cars. The strike call and the government response is working out as a challenge between the government and the taxi operators, and who emerges victorious will be settled, possibly, by the end of the day, depending on whether the tourists and people are troubled by the lack of taxi services, or whether the alternative arrangements ensured that the day passed smoothly.
A little competition from app-based taxi services will end the monopoly enjoyed by the taxi operators and give the local people and tourists holidaying in the State a choice and better service. It is time that the government acts on its threats and introduces an app-based taxi service in the State. This would be one move welcome by a large percentage of the population.
