April 07, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, April 6: Scores of people who had applied for auto-rickshaws under the President’s Rozgar Scheme took out a protection here on Sunday. They were claiming that over 50 people, despite depositing instalments, had not been given atuo-rickshaws.

Led by Purkho Eisser, Partab, Mehandro and Naraindas, the protesters carried banners and placards and raised slogans against officials of National Bank. They called upon the president, the prime minister and the president of NBP to ensure immediate delivery of their atuo-rickshaws.

Their leaders deplored that they were jobless and had applied in the NBP Mirpurkhas and had also deposited instalments in August 2007 but they were not delivered their motorcycle rickshaws.

In Dadu, hundreds of social workers and political activists staged a demonstration to protest against non-delivery of rickshaws to aspirants under the President’s Rozgar Scheme and non-sanctioning of loan to government employees by the NBP as advance salaries.

They alleged that the local NBP officials were demanding Rs3,000 to 4,000 per rickshaw.

President of District Social Welfare Youth Organisation Nadeem Ahmed Ghaloo said that scores of jobless youth had obtained forms for rickshaws under the scheme after paying Rs1,500 about nine months ago. He said that over 300 youths had paid Rs7,000 each to the bank for rickshaw.

He said that applicants were visiting NBP local branch, where some officials were demanding bribe for advancing rickshaw loans.

He said that unemployed youths after selling goats, or jewellery of their family members, had deposited fees to earn a livelihood by getting rickshaws through the scheme.

Khalid Hussain Lashari said that loan forms were free of cost but officials had collected Rs1500 per form in addition to Rs7,000 as advance against the scheme.

A jobless youth Tanvir Ahmed said that he had completed all formalities nine months ago but he was not given rickshaw because he failed to oblige the local bank officials.

They appealed to president of the NBP, the governor of the State Bank and the prime minister to take notice and ensure justice to unemployed youths.