Several times I've said 'no' to rikshaw pullers because it's heart-aching to see one is taking efforts, consuming his blood as a source of fuel just to travel for you! But yesterday I walked for long after a long time and it was not possible to walk more, my legs and lower body were literally shivering. & then I saw many rikshaw pullers who were urging people to have a seat and get their fare so that they can earn and fulfill their needs & I finally dared to seat and experienced the heart-aching feeling. Duringthe travel of almost 1.5km, I talked with rikshaw puller chacha :
1.Subah se sham tak yahi ?
- ji ha isi pe chalta hai, koi kam bhi nahi hai aajkal.
2. Aapke charges fixed hai yah fir alag alag ?
- alag alag rahte hai , thand me kam jyada nhi ho pata, dal roti ka ho jata hai , aur yeh electric rikshaw aane k bad hum logo ka dhanda nahi hota.
Then I went to make a change of notes. While a friend with me asked him a few more questions,
1. Aapki family kaha pe hai fir ?
- Delhi me mehangai bahut hai, mai akela rehta hoon gharwale gav me rahte hai.
2. Aapke din me kitne ho jate hai ?
- din bhar 200-250 kama leta hoon.
We gave him fare and a packet of snacks. It's not the thing I want to explain here. But,
- Can blood be a source of fuel even in 2023 ??
- Is it possible to fulfill the needs of the 4-5 family members in Rs.6000/- a month?
- What about health security? Educational security? Social security? Of the Rikshaw puller and his family?
- How can we help them to tackle electric vehicles, CNG rikshaw & people with Ola, and Uber?
(Without a doubt, I can say he is eco-friendly living. He is not consuming natural resources as much as we consume. No Petrol/Diesel, No pollution).
It is indeed hard to paddle the cycle on inclined paths!
It is really terrible to stop the paddle and paddle the cycle again in traffic and that's too with 1 or 2 persons sitting behind!
Do you think our technologically fascinated and forwarded world and mindset will help him?
Don't you think about inclusive growth & development? And if 'Yes'; HOW? And if 'No'; WHY ??
#rikshawpullers #StoryOnWheels #growth
