Running on rickshaws

Kamal Ali, a hand-drawn rickshaw puller, said: "It's difficult to get by with a monthly earning of not more than 3,000 rupees ($36). If our rickshaws are banned, I shall not survive. I'm illiterate. I have two sons and three daughters. My sons have moved to another city with their wives, and barely visit. My daughters are married."

"Every day is a battle against exhaustion and uncertainty," said Rajan Kumar, another rickshaw puller. "Pulling a rickshaw in the scorching heat or pouring rain, I dream of a life where my family won't have to endure any hardship. The future is always on my mind, but the present is all-consuming. Despite the challenges, I take pride in my work. In places where other forms of transport can't reach, my rickshaw can navigate effortlessly. Whether it's ferrying people through narrow lanes or delivering packages to hard-to-reach areas, I know my work is essential to the city's daily life. It's this sense of purpose that keeps me going."

The erstwhile West Bengal government, under the Left Front, attempted to ban hand-pulled rickshaws in 2006, citing human dignity concerns. The proposed Calcutta Hackney-Carriage (Amendment) Bill aimed to phase them out, but implementation has been slow. Talks of replacing these rickshaws with battery-operated versions have surfaced but remain unrealized.

Mukhtar Ali from the All Bengal Rickshaw Union acknowledging the stagnation, said they have discussed their concerns with Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal.

"Prior to the elections, we sent her (Mamata Banerjee) a letter, which she promptly forwarded to the transport minister. He has assured us that he will address our issues after the elections. In the meantime, we are drafting a letter outlining our demands for rehabilitation packages."

A report by The Calcutta Samaritans and Action Aid showed the harsh realities of the rickshaw pullers' lives. About 76 percent of them work over 12 hours a day without access to adequate healthcare.