PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday distributed free ration kits to flower vendors in Marcaim constituency, and taxi drivers from Panjim and Taleigao constituencies.
In Bandora village of Marcaim constituency, State Vice-President Adv. Surel Tilve distributed free ration kits to the flower-vendors. Tilve stated that, due to numerous popular temples in the village and its vicinity, flower vending was a major economic activity especially for women, adding that the lockdown restrictions on religious places had severely affected these self-employed women.
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AAP leaders Valmiki Naik and Cecille Rodrigues distributed more than 100 ration kits to the taxi drivers who had gathered at the St. Inez junction taxi stand in Panjim.
Rodrigues said the distribution drive was a small gesture from the party to provide relief for the daily earners who had suffered great economic distress due to COVID and the lockdown restrictions. Rodrigues criticised the BJP government for misleading the taxi drivers, stating that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had made them submit documents and apply for financial relief during the first lockdown in 2020, but not a single rupee had been given even after more than a year.
Rodrigues said that the lockdown had been extended again, but CM was being heartless by ignoring its effect on the common man.
Premanand Naik, a taxi driver from Taleigao, said that not only is the government doing anything to help, but it is putting additional burden on the taxi drivers by forcing them to install meters at a cost of Rs 14,000.
