Team Herald
PONDA: The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday distributed free ration packets to around 200 motorcycle, rickshaw and taxi drivers operating in and around the Ponda Taluka area.
State Vice-President Adv Surel Tilve along with leaders Bramhanand Naik, Bhanudas Naik, Seby Dias, Manisha Naik, Aishwarya Naik, Reshma Angdi, Nickson Dias and others were part of the drive.
Tilve said that self-employed Goans such as motorcycle, rickshaw and taxi owners, who depended on daily earnings, were going through difficult times due to COVID-19 and the lockdown.
“With markets and shops closed for a long time, there was a drastic drop in income. However, the cost of monthly outgoings such as fuel, EMIs, insurance, living expenses etc has kept rising. This is why we decided to take this step to provide some temporary relief to these sections of people,” Tilve said.
Tilve accused the BJP government of only making empty announcements of financial compensation to those affected due to COVID-19 restrictions, revealing that not a single motorcycle, rickshaw or taxi owner has received even a rupee in relief.
The beneficiaries expressed their thanks to AAP for taking a timely step to provide relief during the pandemic. The association members said that a couple of other political leaders had done a similar drive, but restricted it only for those within their constituency.
