HAND RICKSHAWS OF KOLKATA
Kolkata is the last major city in the world where hand pulled rickshaws carry passengers – although London may be following in its footsteps.
It is estimated that there are 18,000 rickshaw pullers who earn a meagre living on the streets of Kolkata – with 6,000 registered with the city government.
The authorities have been keen to take the hand pulled rickshaws off the road on humanitarian grounds – and perhaps because they are an echo of bygone colonial days.
The rickshaw pullers naturally oppose such a move claiming that their work is no more inhumane than working in the mines or fields. They also do not trust the promise of alternate employment. To pave the way for the removal of the hand pulled rickshaws the authorities offered a payment for each rickshaw which was voluntarily turned in – but none were.
The next threat to the hand pulled rickshaw will be the electric rickshaw recently introduced on a trial basis.