Autodrivers pledge to follow two-child norm, help check population growth

Even as the so-called educated lot continues to turn a blind eye towards population explosion, an unlettered man has taken up cudgels to control the teeming growth.

Even as the so-called educated lot continues to turn a blind eye towards population explosion, an unlettered man has taken up cudgels to control the teeming growth.

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Inspired by Vasudev Aheriya, president of Samast Haryana Autorickshaw Union, hundreds of autorickshaw drivers on Friday vowed to strictly follow the two-child norm — “Hum Do, Hamare Do”.

“Today was my third attempt to administer the oath to auto drivers. I also made them promise to stay away from liquor and other intoxicants,” said Aheriya.

“It started in 1986, when a group of auto drivers took an oath to follow the two-child norm. That was followed by another such oath-taking ceremony in 2002. This is the third such attempt,” Aheriya told the Hindustan Times after the ceremony outside the Mini-Secretariat area in Sector 12.

His wife Santosh Aheriya accompanied him to the ceremony. The couple has just one child, a girl, who is married now.

“I let auto drivers join my union on two conditions — to adopt the two-child norm, and to stay away from intoxicants,” he said.

“An auto driver, on an average, earns R100 to R200. If someone has more than two children and is addicted to drinks, the entire family suffers,” said another auto driver Mohan Lal Saigal, who has already taken the oath.

“I took the oath on Friday, and will abide by it,” said Naveen Vats, 33, who is father a child.

“I will rather try not to have another child,” he added.