Rickshawbank - Banking On Rickshaws For Greener Journeys

They are a part and parcel of life in small towns, and the best guarantee for easy mobility in several congested old neighbourhoods in many metropolitan cities of India. Yet, they are shunned by municipalities and police alike as slow-moving traffic. In this feature, Dr Rina Mukherji highlights Dr Pradeep Sarmah’s persistent efforts in promoting the cause of cycle-rickshaws and rickshaw-pullers in the country.

- Dr Rina Mukherji

Although rickshaws are estimated to number around 8 million all over India, providing an important feeder mode of transport in big cities, and serving as a major mode of transport in small towns, neglect by authorities has relegated them to the sidelines. This is in spite of the fact that they ply nearly 4 billion passengers on a daily basis, providing livelihoods to thousands. Consequently, the humble rickshaw-puller has always been looked upon as a pariah, with, until very recently, no access to bank loans, insurance or financial support. Thus, only 10 per cent of the rickshaw-pullers actually own the rickshaws they run.

This is because the bulk of pullers happen to be migrants, who take to rickshaw-pulling in the absence of other means of livelihood when they migrate to towns or cities from the rural interiors. Unfortunately, there are few cycle-rickshaw lanes in India. In fact, in many parts of India, there is a conscious move to phase them out. In cities such as Kolkata, for instance, they are not allowed in the major thoroughfares, and must ply their vehicles along by-lanes and back alleys. Even crossing a main road might have them subject to harassment by the traffic police.