Ashoka to take care of deceased driver family

Transport Minister R Ashoka while addressing the 2000 auto drivers gathered at the felicitation function to honest auto drivers at Town Hall on Thursday promised to take up the responsibility of providing free education up to II PUC to  the 2 children of auto driver Srinivas who died recently, a victim of heavy rain that lashed the city recently. A tree fell on his auto due to gusty winds, and he was crushed to death under its weight.

He also appreciated the initiative taken by TVS and all the 9 Bangalore Auto Associations for bringing the victim family to this platform to raise the relief fund, and also appreciated the associations and all drivers who volunteered to donate money to this family.
He also recalled his mistake made as first time MLA during Kargil war, which was rectified by a small boy of his constituency, and narrated the a incident.

“I had as usual gone like any other politician to inaugurate a Blood Donation camp organized by the proactive youths to procure blood to the Jawans of Kargil war who were struggling to protect the country.

After inaugurating the camp I was returning home, suddenly I heard a boy murmuring that when these politicians come here, some genuine people do donate blood but the credit goes to the Minister. For a movement I just ignored him and left the place, but after a few minutes it struck me as true and I felt guilty.  I immediately returned to the camp venue and donated blood and felt very proud that I too donated blood for our jawans. From then onward I have been donating blood regularly,” he concluded.

The moral of the story which he wanted to convey to the auto drivers was that be honest, do not tamper the meter and set an example like these 10 honest auto drivers. There are bad elements in all sections of society, but a few bad people bring disrepute to the entire section, he remarked.

“We are including the auto drivers in the Vajpayee Arogya Shree Yojane to provide health insurance, and Rs. 20 crore has been set aside in the BBMP budget Insurance schemem which covers 400 ailments,” he added.