All Manipur School Students Transporter’s Association (AMSSTA) secretary Jimmy Tongbram on Thursday said that more than 3,500 families run by school van drivers are facing huge financial issue after the school transporter completely halted their services for eight months due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Tongbram made the comment during the monetary assistance and essential food items distribution programme to 170 school van transporters of Yaiskul constituency by HVS managing director Vikramjit Singh and his family members under the aegis of AMSSTA.
The programme was conducted under the theme ‘Progressive Yaiskul Kendra’ on Thursday at the residence of Vikramjit at Patsoi, Imphal.
While almost all other professions have started resuming their works, school van drivers are left without any jobs and income, Tongbram added.
The secretary appealed to the state government to provide financial assistance to the school van drivers by way of interest free loan upto Rs.2 lakhs considering the financial issue faced by them since the past eight months.
Vikramjit who is also an aspirant candidate of Yaiskul AC in the Assembly election, 2022 claimed that the government as well as the opposition are engaged in blame game instead of focusing on development.
He also expressed his desire of expanding the Wangkhei and Kongba road with a proper drainage system.
The programme was also attended by president of Yaiskul Block Congress Committee Ph Guneshwor and president of AMSSTA Maibam Kenedy as presidium members.
