Skip to main content

Vehicle scrappage policy 'ignores' repair shop workers' livelihood options, poor roads

By Sudhansu R Das

The Union Government has launched Vehicle Scrappage Policy to scrap 15 year old commercial vehicles and 20 year old private vehicles; the estimated target is 51 lakh vehicles in the first phase. The government said its new circular economy would attract investment worth Rs 10,000 crore and create 35,000 new jobs. 
In the US and Europe, scrap policy is effectively used to boost the car manufacturing sector during economic slowdown. Undoubtedly the scrap policy will immensely benefit car makers, scrap industries and give sops to new car buyers. But, scrapping the old cars will not create many jobs nor would it reduce pollution much. It will create a debt burden on the already battered middle class population.
Thousands of poor mechanics and repair shops across the country repair old cars to earn their livelihood. Over the years they have developed expertise in car repairing; those people can repair each and every part of the cars at an affordable cost. 
 When the corona pandemic has devastated the economy, employment and livelihood across the country, the scrapping of old cars will put millions of car owners into difficulties as they can’t afford to buy new cars at a far higher cost. The policy should have a mix of human heart so that people would not face much difficulties during hard times.
Before scrapping cars, the government should reduce the cost of electric cars and two wheelers so that the corona hit the middle class can exchange their cars with the electric vehicles; the new generation electric cars are too costly to be affordable for the middle class population. Even an electric scooter from a good company costs Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh.
With advanced technology the old cars can be brought back to new condition. So, let there be industries and start ups which can refurbish old cars. Car is no longer a luxury for the middle class people; it has become a basic need like health, education and housing. 
Business houses should not exploit the basic needs of people and the government should step in to curb the intention to maximize profit from basic needs. Forcing people to buy new cars will be too cruel when car makers are already offering for exchange of old cars. When thousands of Indians are already exchanging their cars, what is the need of the scrapping policy? Again increasing re-registration fee for old cars will compel people to borrow and go for new cars. 
If an old car passes through a fitness test, no registration fee should be collected from the owner. The government wants to scrap old cars in order to reduce pollution. For that, the government can penalize those car owners who have no pollution certificate. In fact, the majority of private cars have pollution certificates.
Before asking for fitness certificates for old cars, the governments should give certificates stating the roads are fit for vehicles. Every day an average six people are being killed in road accidents and scores of people get injured in road accidents in Hyderabad. Barring the Air Port road and a few roads in the high tech city, the majority of roads in Hyderabad have dangerous potholes and are not worthy for vehicles. Roads are being repaired every year with tax payers’ money. 
But after heavy rain for four to five hours the roads peel out which are again filled up with mud and sand only to be washed away again and again. Millions of trees, thousands of lakes and water bodies have vanished from the Indian cities; many thousands of water bodies have been polluted. 
The nation should urgently enact a strong law to punish the authority for failing to protect the water bodies of any size. India would have been far more beautiful with those water bodies; Indians would have been more productive, creative and healthy with those water bodies and greeneries.
In many small towns, cities, rural areas and even in metro cities, private cars are the chief mode of transportation for middle class people; senior citizens find it very cost effective to maintain a basic model of Maruti, Tata, Mahindra or Hyundai. If people scrape their basic model cars, they have to pay double the amount for buying battery-run cars. 
Before scrapping cars for its steel and other parts, the government should reduce the cost of electric cars and advise car makers to give more discounts while exchanging old cars. Companies are offering exchange value of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 on old basic model cars which is too small compared to the actual value of cars. 
If the exchange offer is good, more people will automatically part with their old cars. In fact, every year thousands of people buy new cars on exchange only. What is the need of compelling people to scrap their well maintained old cars which do not pollute? Let the people decide when to exchange their cars with companies.
Barring Mumbai, Bangaluru, Calcutta and Chennai the rest of the cities do not have safe, affordable and reliable public transportation systems. Before scrapping cars, the government should establish a reliable public transportation system to save people’s time and money. The scrapping policy should help car makers, scrapping industries as well as the old car owners; above all it should be nation specific.

Comments

Peter said…
This is alarming! Hyderabad authority should take proper action to keep the road safe.

TRENDING

Importance of Bangladesh for India amidst 'growing might' of China in South Asia

By Samara Ashrat*  The basic key factor behind the geopolitical importance of Bangladesh is its geographical location. The country shares land borders with Myanmar and India. Due to its geographical position, Bangladesh is a natural link between South Asia and Southeast Asia.  The country is also a vital geopolitical ally to India, in that it has the potential to facilitate greater integration between Northeast India and Mainland India. Not only that, due to its open access to the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has become significant to both China and the US.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

'BBC film shows only tip of iceberg': Sanjiv Bhatt's daughter speaks at top US press club

By Our Representative   The United States' premier journalists' organisation, the National Press Club (NPC), has come down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recent "attacks on journalists in India." Speaking at the screening of an episode of the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question,” banned in India, in the club premises, NPC President Eileen O’Reilly said, “Since Modi came to power we have watched with frustration and disappointment as his regime has suppressed the rights of its citizens to a free and independent news media."

Natural farming: Hamirpur leads the way to 'huge improvement' in nutrition, livelihood

By Bharat Dogra*  Santosh is a dedicated farmer who along with his wife Chunni Devi worked very hard in recent months to convert a small patch of unproductive land into a lush green, multi-layer vegetable garden. This has ensured year-round supply of organically grown vegetables to his family as well as fetched several thousand rupees in cash sales.

Over-stressed? As Naveen Patnaik turns frail, Odisha 'moves closer' to leadership crisis

By Sudhansu R Das  Not a single leader in Odisha is visible in the horizon who can replace Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He has ruled Odisha for nearly two and half decades. His father, Biju Patnaik, had built Odisha; he was a daring pilot who saved the life of Indonesia’s Prime Minister Sjahrir and President Sukarno when the Dutch army blocked their exit.

Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Ban Ki-moon, others ask Bangladesh PM to 'protect' Yunus

Counterview Desk  A campaign has been launched to support Bangladesh-based economist, micro-finance guru and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, seeking signatures from citizens across the globe in order to “protect” his work, life and safety.

Electricity sharing opens up new window for India’s eastern neighbourhood engagement

By Sufian Asif* Today, challenges like climate change, pandemics, energy reliance, economic crisis, and many more are concerning us. No nation can overcome these obstacles without the assistance and collaboration of other nations. Most importantly, many of these problems have international repercussions. South Asia is facing much more difficulty when compared to other regions. In South Asia, we have some regional organizations, but they are ineffective.

Regional political dynamics 'leading to' institutional violence in SAARC University

By Sandeep Pandey*  South Asian University is a university set up in Delhi by member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives – which is open to students from all these countries. However, as SAARC is receiving little attention these days because of regional political dynamics, it appears as if SAU has lost significance too. Because of the hiatus in peace process between India and Pakistan, the Board of Governors of this University is dysfunctional.

'Vulgar display of wealth': Govt of India using G20 presidency for political, electoral gains

Counterview Desk  Seeking endorsement for a public statement on India's G20 Presidency, several people’s movements, trade unions and other civil society groups have come together to say that not only will G20 and its priorities “will worsen economic, social and climate crisis”, already, India’s presidency is being used “for vulgar display of pomp & for electoral gains.”