Independent Transport- Workers’ Association of Nepal (ITWAN)
Workers from transport sector had initiated the movement for their rights with the beginning of the public transport. On June 23, 1979 transport workers organised a national gathering in Panipiya of Sunsari district and formed Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal (ITWAN).
ITWAN is first and strongest union of this sector and is registered as third federation in Department of Labour as National Federation. Of the approximately 400,000 transport workers in the country majority is associated with ITWAN. In the 14 zones of the country the union has expanded in 13 zones except Karnali zone. At national level the union is affiliated to GEFONT and at international level it is affiliated with International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
Affiliates Activities
Agreement reached to organise ticket booking counters for public transport
An agreement has been reached to organise the ticket booking counters of public transport within Kathmandu metropolis by 4th of August.
The agreement was reached among the representatives of all the 3 federations of the transport sector: Kathmandu Metropolitan City, officials of the Nepal National Transport Professionals Association and
Independent Transport- Workers’ Association of Nepal on July 16.
After Kathmandu Metropolitan Corporation published a public notice on July 11 stating to remove ticket booking counters from July 16st, stakeholders protested the decision of the metropolitan city by issuing a statement on July 15th.
Driver assaulted by traffic police.
Furious transport workers blocked Satdobato intersection area on Sunday evening after driver Rajkumar Tiruwa of Lalitpur's Godawari-Lagankhel route was assaulted by traffic police assistant constable Rajesh Chaudhary and jawan Arjun Rai.
Assistant constable Rajesh Choudhary told the driver of Ba 2 Kha 2077, who was going to Godawari from Lagankhel with passengers, that he did not have the documents requested by the assistant constable Rajesh Chaudhary as the documents were at the traffic police office.
According to witnesses, the traffic police, who became infuriated, attacked the driver while on the driver’s seat and threw him to the ground, then kicked him with his boot and hit him hard enough that the steering wheel of the vehicle broke.
Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal, Lalitpur District Committee and Godawari Route Unit Committee, protested against the unwarranted behaviour of the traffic police and blocked the road till 8PM by parking all the vehicles on the road and chanting against the traffic police.
Due to the unity demonstrated by the transport workers, a 4-point agreement was reached which included taking formal action against their assistant constable Chaudhary and jawan Rai, treating the driver and repairing the vehicle.
Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal assists the family of driver Meghnath B.K.
The Independent Transport- Workers’ Association of Nepal has provided 1 lakh 10 thousand 1 hundred and 5 rupees to the family of the driver Meghnath B.K.,
who died after getting hit by rocks in a landslide on the night of 12th July.
At a place called 17 Kilo of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Chitwan, on the night of July 12, B.K., who was seriously injured by a rock during the landslide, drove the bus about 50 metres ahead and saved the passengers.
At 17 Kilo of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, on the night of July 12, B.K., after getting seriously injured by a rock fall during the landslide, drove the bus about 50 metres ahead and saved the passengers.
According to ITWAN, preparations are being made to give national honour to B.K., who died during treatment.
Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal assists its members .
Unit committee of the Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal (ITWAN) held the meeting and training program on Saturday the 27th of July.
In a program held at the office of the Cooperative Board at Pulchowk Harihar Bhawan, 9 drivers were given 3,000 cash each as assistance in renewing their driver's licence.
ITWAN Central President Bhimjwala Rai, GEFONT Bagmati Province President Ramhari Nepal and ITWAN Bagmati Province President Shankar Thapa, provided training in the program.
Similarly, Rajaram Shrestha, an ordinary member of ITWAN Dhulikhel Route Bus Unit Committee, who is undergoing treatment for a brain haemorrhage, has been provided 1 lakh support by the Unit Committee.
The aid was handed over to the family of Rajaram Shrestha on July 27 in the presence of Bagmati Province President Shankar Thapa, Secretary Shiva Kumar Shrestha and other members of the committee.
