1. Telangana auto drivers demand immediate financial aid like Andhra Pradesh’s Rs 15,000 scheme.
2. Over 10 lakh drivers and 25 lakh dependents face severe income losses.
3. Daily earnings for many drivers have fallen below Rs 1,000.
4. 198 drivers have died by suicide due to financial stress, and many others quit the profession.
5. Unions warn of state-wide protests unless fare revisions, welfare schemes, and support are provided.

Amid a deepening livelihood crisis, Telangana's auto-rickshaw drivers are urgently pressuring the state government to deliver on its promise of financial assistance. Facing severely slashed daily incomes due to the free bus travel scheme for women and competition from ride-hailing apps, unions are demanding the immediate release of the Rs 12,000 annual support that was promised but remains unimplemented. This call for action is fuelled by the fact that neighboring Andhra Pradesh already provides ₹15,000 per year to its auto drivers, setting a precedent that Telangana's more than 10 lakh drivers desperately want their government to follow.

“We are demanding that the Telangana government release the promised financial assistance as soon as possible — without it, survival has become impossible for thousands of drivers,” said Bandarapu Venkatesham, General Secretary of the Telangana Auto Rickshaw Driver and Workers Union and convener of the Telangana Auto Rickshaw Unions JAC. “Our earnings have dipped and debts are mounting.”

The government’s free bus travel scheme for women, combined with the growing dominance of private ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber, has affected daily income. While Andhra Pradesh introduced financial relief to offset these losses, Telangana’s promised support remains unfulfilled.

The numbers reveal the scale of the crisis. There are over 3 lakh auto drivers in Hyderabad and more than 10 lakh across Telangana— nearly 25 lakh people depend directly or indirectly on the profession. Yet, despite their crucial role in the state’s transport network, they have no access to ESI, PF, or any welfare schemes. Making matters worse, the fare structure — last revised in 2013 — still stands at Rs 20 minimum and Rs 12 per kilometre, even as fuel prices and the cost of living have skyrocketed.

Most drivers now earn only Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a month — nowhere near enough to meet basic needs such as rent, groceries, and school fees. Those renting vehicles are in an even more desperate situation, paying Rs 400 to Rs 500 daily just for rent. “We work 10 to 12 hours a day but still cannot make ends meet,” Venkatesham added.

He also highlighted that a government-run ride-booking application could significantly ease their burden. Unlike private apps that charge up to 40% commission on each ride, a state-operated platform would allow drivers to retain most of their earnings and help the government regulate the sector more effectively. A similar plan proposed by former minister K.T. Rama Rao was shelved, and the current government has shown no interest in reviving it.

The anger among drivers is mounting. Sridhar, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in-charge in Secunderabad, said that before the free bus scheme and app-based services, drivers earned Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 daily. Now, even earning Rs 1,000 is uncertain. He appealed to Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar to immediately implement the promised Rs 12,000 assistance and cap the commissions charged by ride-hailing companies.

James, an auto driver from Lothkunta, shared his frustration: “Despite six years in this profession, I now make a maximum of Rs 1,000 a day — not enough to feed my family. In Andhra Pradesh, the government acted quickly to support us. In Telangana, we have been abandoned with false promises.”

Union leaders report that 198 auto drivers have died by suicide due to crushing debts, while many others have quit the profession. Those still driving are often trapped in heavy debt cycles, paying Rs 10,000 or more every month in interest on vehicle loans.

Unions accuse the government of neglecting their plight. While Andhra Pradesh distributes financial aid during festivals, Telangana’s drivers continue to wait for relief. Leaders estimate that the government now owes over Rs 1,000 crore in promised assistance. Without immediate measures — including fare revisions, welfare schemes, financial aid, and regulation of ride-hailing platforms — they warn of large-scale protests across the state.