Thread: Our dear rikshaw wala

It is about time our government did something to stop human pulled rikshaws (not just the ones in Calcutta I am talking about the rikshaw which has pedals aswell).
Why do we have rikshaws? There was a need for them 10-15 years ago when auto rikshaws were out of reach of common man both commuters and drivers who couldn’t afford to buy one or rent one.

A rikshaw can be hired for about rs25 to 30 for 12 hours and a rikshaw wala makes more then rs100 profit by pulling a rikshaw after paying that 25-30 rs rent and he works for 7-8 hours depending on his physical abilities and an auto rikshaw can be rented for rs 100 to 150 for a day depending upon where you are I checked in delhi 3-4 years ago may be things have changed since then so don’t quote me on this.

Wouldn’t it be a wise decision for the government to ban human pulled rikshaws ? It will put an end to miseries of so many people who are suffering from ill health due to pulling rikshaw day and night and hence putting further pressure on already stretched health services.

Once rikshaws are taken off the roads the auto rikshaw business will surely become more lucrative and those who come from some other poor states into the metros will stop coming as there wont be the rikshaw option and those who would come in will have to get a license for driving an auto rikshaw.

The government can also launch a lighter version of an auto rikshaw or shall we say mechanised version of a rikshaw which will run on petrol and will be a bit more faster then traditional human pulled rikshaw and will bring reduction to slow moving traffic on the roads of crowded metro cities.

Well that was me being me so I would like to hear what you have to say or if there are some policy makers reading this who have a say in these kind of decisions in the government please make me understand why rikshaws should not be taken off the roads.

These rikshaw pullers, if you notice, are not like those auto-rikshaw drivers, these rikshaw pullers are living even below poverty line and they are doing it for their daily bread. They are only doing it because they have no other option to do. The govt. should provide apt alternatives to these poor fellows and then should think of banning it entirely, else their livelihood will be affected. Yes, it is really sad to see them toiling on the road with their rickshaws, but what to do, this is india for you!