‘No money for quality children’s education’

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Thanks to the ever-increasing petrol prices along with decreasing patronage for the auto-rickshaws after the arrival of illegally operated ‘Ape’ share autos and Tata magic vans, D. Sathya, wife of a city auto driver, has decided to move her sons from an English medium school to a government school.

“My husband drives a hired auto rickshaw for which he has to pay a daily rental of `200. Our life has become miserable after the mushrooming of Ape autos that are being operated illegally as share autos,” she said sorrowfully.

After paying the daily rental amount, the nominal amount that my husband gives me is not enough to meet the expenses of a five-member family, she rues and adds, “I have to manage the expenses of the family with the few hundred rupees in addition to paying Rs 3,000 as rent for our home.”

“How can I give my children quality education with this nominal amount?” she asks. “After the steep hike, we would not be able to pay the fees for our wards studying in an English medium school and are forced to move them to a local school,” she said.

“I have heard of several people complaining about auto drivers fleecing them. But people should also see the other side of the poor auto drivers’ families,” Sathya points out.