Oblivious of the Supreme Court batting for them, rickshaw pullers live life one day at a time
The Supreme Court ruling on Monday against Municipal Corporation of Delhi's proposal of fixing the number of licenses for cycle rickshaws may seem like a glimmer of hope for the community, but spending a few hours with them tells another story.
Marred by the oncoming summer on the one hand and struggling for a livelihood on the other, for most rickshaw pullers finding the next commuter is the real issue. Most are not only oblivious of the recent developments in their favour, but also of the existence of bodies like the MCD or even a licensing system for pulling rickshaws.
They, however, agree with the apex court's concerns about their livelihood if any such cap is implemented. “Fine, let them remove all rickshaw pullers. It is not as if we enjoy coming to Delhi leaving our villages just to pull rickshaws,” said Mohammad Nasia, a migrant from Darbhanga in Bihar (most of them are migrants from either Uttar Pradesh or Bihar).
Nasia's own story provides a glimpse into the plight of the rickshaw pullers in the Capital where they are often seen as a ‘liability'. The 30-year-old, plying between Rajendra Place and Shadipur in West Delhi, has been living in Delhi for the last ten years. He has to support a family of seven, which includes his five children, four of whom go to school.
Nasia never went to school but wants his children to study. Though he sends them to a state school, he spends on a private tuition for them. While dropping girls to the nearby Kalindi College in East Patel Nagar, he dreams that his children, too, will go to a college someday. Limited means are locked in a constant battle with ever-increasing demands.
For others the case isn't very different. Most of the rickshaw pullers in both Patel Nagar and Karol Bagh, earn around Rs 250 a day. Almost none of them own the rickshaws they pull. The daily rent for each rickshaw comes to around Rs 50. According to them, alcohol is a necessity which they cannot do without. Hours of hard physical labour demands its consumption. They know it adds to their expenses and is a health hazard, but “such is life”. Medical facilities are mostly unaffordable. Vijay, 63, explains how he lost his wife due to tuberculosis and how his financial constraints prevented him from providing her better treatment.
Facilities or welfare programmes from the government are something unheard of. As Rajesh tries to answer these questions at the busy Karol Bagh market, a policeman taps him gently with his stick asking him to vacate the area. The taps are not always gentle, says Rajesh, though hurriedly adding that he understands that cops too have to carry out their duties. “Otherwise it will be a chaotic situation, no,” he says still managing a smile.
Despite seeing the irony of their existence, the richshaw pullers manage to retain their optimism, sometimes managing to look beyond their vocation. Surjeet Singh from Bareilly has an interesting story to share. Surjeet has taken his Class X board exams this year. While waiting for his results, he spends his time ferrying passengers in the narrow alleys of Karol Bagh. He wants to study further and make a career elsewhere.
Meanwhile, as the courts and municipal bodies write the script for the future of rickshaw pullers, the cast is busy combating its miserable present.