Model bill for rights of non-motorized vehicles

NEW DELHI: An expert group formed by the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Ministry has submitted a Model Bill for providing welfare provisions and protecting the rights of rickshaw-pullers and others using non-motorised vehicles for earning their livelihood.

HUPA Minister Girija Vyas had constituted the expert group, headed by retired chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mukul Mudgal, in January to study the issue and prepare the Model Bill.

"The bill seeks to protect the constitutional right to equality and livelihood of persons engaged in the non-motorized vehicles sector, to provide welfare provisions, including conditions of work and benefits due to them, and promote the use of environment-friendly employment opportunities," the ministry said in a statement.

The Bill also envisages promotion of the use of cost efficient non-motorized vehicles as an integral and necessary part of vehicular traffic and providing equitable road space as well as encouraging alternative urban designs for creating separate tracks for non-motorized vehicles on city roads.

It also has a provision for appointing appropriate authorities for implementation of these functions and other related matters.

The group comprised members representing government, urban planning, law, civil society and technical experts. It examined issues of livelihoods of pliers of non-motorised vehicles and looked into the possibility of drafting a model central bill for their promotion, regulation and welfare.

Vyas assured Justice (retired) Mudgal that her ministry will go through the recommendations in detail and take suitable measures to protect the interests of vulnerable occupational groups covered by the Model Bill.

Further discussions will be held on October 24 with the full expert group.