Calcutta’s Rickshaw Pullers In Danger

Rickshaws are considered a significant component of the ancient and modern history in some places around the world. Apparently, people love the tradition and they are very eager to preserve rickshaws until forever. But the question remains: will rickshaws last until the next, next and even the next generations? What are the major reasons why rickshaw pullers are rapidly decreasing? This is the case of the Calcutta rickshaw pullers… Let’s all clear the brake dust shield and find out!

Authorities are protesting to stop rickshaw pullers from doing their job. According to News.BBC.co.UK, they say having pullers, rather than petrol or pedals, power this form of vehicle is cruel. However, veteran and new rickshaw pullers disagree. Many have been taking their position for years and believe they would experience an unsure future if their work is bunged.

Hand-pulled rickshaws are well-known locally in West Bengal as tana rickshaws or the haath rickshaws if you're a non-Bengali.

Abdul Sattar, another veteran rickshaw puller, says: "Come Friday and local police begin to raid the areas where we pull our rickshaws. Often we are locked inside the police stations and fined. If you don't pay the fine, you end up staying longer in the police station. We consider ourselves extremely lucky if we avoid a beating."

"Licenses have either expired or who never got legitimate permission to ply Calcutta streets,” says Sandhi Mukherjee, the assistant commissioner of Calcutta's traffic police. "It's relatively cheap and very handy for short-distance travel, where neither auto-rickshaw nor taxi drivers would agree to drop you."