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More than 5,000 auto rickshaw drivers in Mumbai went on strike on Monday to demand a hike in their meter tariffs.

Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union organized a protest rally to put forth their demands.

[Bharat M. Mehta, Auto Rickshaw Driver]:
"Our demands are that just like inflation our meter rates should be increased. Sometimes the price of gas is increased but we don't want it to be like that. We need milk, vegetables, food and we don't only rely on gas. Just like government employees get pensions, we don't get any provident funds or sick leave. Whatever we have, we depend upon our meter. So our meter rates should be raised. We are not asking too much, we are not even asking for fun and frolic but we just want enough money to run our families."

There are over 100 thousand auto drivers in the city and their call to keep at bay would burn a hole in the passengers' pockets for the day.

Auto drivers say they are troubled as prices of every commodity in the market has gone sky high, making their living conditions distressing.

[Bharat M. Mehta, Auto Rickshaw Driver]:
"Rickshaw drivers are at a dying stage. Inflation is increasing so much and on that basis our rates are lower than the government buses that ply in the city. We take the passengers on 11 rupees ($ 0.22), while the buses take passengers for minimum 6 rupees ($0.12) per head so we are taking 3 passengers for 11 rupees. And inflation is increasing day by day. And due to this our life has become difficult. We are not able to run our families, not being able to give our children good education, nor can we buy milk or water."

The union had recently gone on strike against the tampered meters drive that the regional transport office had organized.

India's financial hub witnesses frequent strikes by taxi and auto unions for fare hikes and better wages.