NHRC Core Group on Business and Human Rights discusses the issues of commercial truck drivers; focuses on collaborative, pragmatic and implementable solutions to safeguard their rights

New Delhi, 19th April, 2022

Mr. Justice Arun Mishra, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India today expressed serious concern over plight of commercial truck drivers and suggested bringing out apparent violation of their human rights. He was chairing the meeting of the Commission’s Core Group on Business and Human Rights in New Delhi.

Pointing to the fact that 5% of the GDP comes from the transport sector and understanding the essential contribution by the commercial truck drivers to the Indian economy, Justice Mishra said that an integrated approach is required to set up that looks after their interests and health.

Justice Mishra said that the truck drivers are not recognized as an organized workforce. He said that although efforts by the Centre and State are appreciated, more attempts needs to be made focusing on provision of social security, means to reduce abuse of substances, awareness about their irresponsible sexual behaviors, standardizing their wages and provision of regular breaks.

Besides the inaugural session, the meeting was divided into three technical sessions including ‘protection from exploitation’, ‘socio-economic welfare framework’ and the ‘physical and mental well-being’ of the commercial truck drivers.

Some of the important aspects, among others, emerged during the discussion are as follows:

• Mandatory health and accident insurance to be provided to truck drivers;

• Provision of truck-stops and resting places on all National Highways and Expressways with amenities for resting, clean food, potable water and clean sanitation;

• Formal remuneration structure along with mandatory social security benefits including life insurance, provident fund, etc.;

• Establishing a dedicated helpline for registration of complaints of corruption and bribery, and

• Efforts to provide basic psychological well-being as a relief to the sedentary and inflexible and highly stressful lifestyle of the commercial truck drivers.

Besides the discussions and the presentations in the meeting, the NHRC Chairperson asked the participants to send their specific suggestions identifying the gaps in the laws, rules, regulations and implementation thereof to chalk out recommendations for the way forward to protect the rights of commercial truck drivers.

The participants included NHRC Members, Mr. Justice M.M. Kumar, Dr. D.M. Mulay, and Mr. Rajiv Jain; DG, Mr. Santosh Mehra, Registrar (Law), Mr. Surajit Dey, Joint Secretaries, Mrs. Anita Sinha and H.C Chaudhary, officers of the Commission, NHRC Core Group members, representatives from the Union Ministries of Road Transport & Highways, Social Justice & Empowerment, Labor& Employment and Health & Family Affairs; All India Transporter’s Welfare Association, Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India, NIMHANS and Save Life Foundation.

*****