NASHIK: The Bhartiya Janata Party transport cell has demanded better health provisions for the truck drivers who run miles across the country to keep the economy running.The president of the cell, who is also senior vice president of Nashik Transport Association, Rajendra Phad, in a letter chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state transport minister Diwakar Raote, urged them to come up with permanent health schemes for the drivers that will help them tide over the physical and mental stress on their wheels.The drivers have to travels thousands of kilometers and spend large numbers of days and nights away from their family, run their vehicles for more than six to eight hours of time, exposed to treacherous conditions like bad roads, bad traffic, violence in case of accidents etc.“All these take heavy toll on their physical as well as the mental health of which these people are least unawares off. In such trying conditions, it is important that the government comes up with plans that will help the neglected part of the society to lead a decent life,” Phad said.Referring to a survey carried out by some private agencies and published at the hands of Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari , Phad said the survey has found more than 50 percent of truck drivers work for more than 12 hours and 46 percent drive continuously for over six hours with no break.“There needs to be some change. The better road condition and the congestion and barrier-free traffic would also go a long way in distressing the drivers,” Phad said.“We therefore have requested the government to step in and make arrangements that will help the truck drivers to focus on their health, raise health awareness and make treatment available to them free of cost. This will help the transport industry and the national economy,” Phad added.

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