Truck Transport Federation Demands Separate Accident Relief Fund

Kathmandu. The Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs Federation has demanded that the government establish a separate accident relief fund through legal provisions to provide relief to the injured and families of the deceased in public transport accidents.

Submitting a memorandum to the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday, the Federation stated that legal provisions are necessary to make the vehicle accident insurance system, addressed in the budget speech for the fiscal year 2083/84, more effective.

The memorandum, signed by Federation Chairman Rajendra Bikram Baniya, mentions that member organizations have been providing additional relief to the injured and families of the deceased in vehicle accidents by collecting a certain fee from entrepreneurs when the amount mentioned in the insurance directive is insufficient.

According to the Federation, treatment for the injured in public transport accidents costs lakhs of rupees in hospitals. However, the current insurance system's treatment expenses are insufficient, forcing entrepreneurs to bear additional financial burdens. In cases of death, the victim's side expresses dissatisfaction with the insurance amount, demands compensation, sets fire to vehicles, and the police administration pressures entrepreneurs to reach an additional agreement, according to Chairman Baniya.

The memorandum demands that if public transport vehicles purchase a valid insurance policy, the insurance company should bear the entire responsibility for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured after an accident.

The Federation stated that although the insurance amount for those who die in accidents has been increased to 1 million rupees in the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84, the treatment cost for the injured remains at the old 300,000 rupees, which is insufficient for treatment, rehabilitation, and relief.

For this reason, the Federation has urged the government to include provisions in the amended act to establish a separate accident relief fund in the law itself for relief work, issue a directive for the operation of the injured relief fund, and operate the fund through the fees collected by the Federation and affiliated organizations from member entrepreneurs.