Two days workshop on ‘Cooperative formation of Rickshaw Pullers in Urban India: Incentives & Challenges’… … a report 12/21/2009 6:12 PM

Introduction of the organizers: Federation of Rickshaw Pullers of India fondly known as

“FORPI” is more than an ordinary unionization of rickshaw pullers. It’s a dream, a thought to be free from shackles of poverty and neglect.

The campaign is brainchild of ‘PATH4India’a noted NGO in the field of social justice through economic and social empowerment.

Recognition of day to day need and subsequent care of the same is primary mandate of this campaign. With the strength of 40 rickshaw pullers the campaign became vocal on 11th of May 2009.

The work of FORPI is centered on capacity building instead of charity. FORPI believes that a uniform platform for like minded people with common objectives and issues would enable them to work for the maximum benefit of the target groups. Also FORPI has firm trust on decentralized decision making which involves all the possible beneficiaries.

In a nutshell mandate of FORPI includes

Organizing individual as well as small unions of Rickshaw Pullers of India and create an umbrella for them.

Facilitating organized identification for them. Advocacy for their Right to Livelihood and to be a Part of the Society. Creating co-ordination between Policy makers, Enforcement agencies, Municipal bodies

and Rickshaw Pullers. Providing them a helpline Number in every city. Evolving a procedure of three layer identification of migrant rickshaw pullers to ensure

mutual security. To promote advance and less effort taking rickshaws Arrange day and night shelters for rickshaw pullers with the help of Govt. and Municipal

Bodies. To use Micro-Credit as a tool for Economic Empowerment of rickshaw pullers, linking them

with financial institutions. To ensure social and financial security. To regularize fares as per distance. To train them for well behavior and motivate them to charge fare as per the standards. To facilitate them with traffic training and provide with traffic rules along with their

certification and license and ensure their safety with the help of concerned authorities. Facilitate augmentation of their financial resources in order to enable them to return their

debts through various creative means. To introduce ‘Shops on Wheel’ (Chalti – Firti Dukaan) with the help of commercial

establishments under Corporate Social Responsibility. With the above vision FORPI has taken a step towards mass attempt for the welfare of

Rickshaw Pullers and for this FORPI has relied on the mutual dialogue between the volunteers and office bearers of PATH4India and Rickshaw Pullers at the root level.

While…. PATH is a noted social enterprise; a voluntary youth Organisation founded in the year 2000, and is registered under Societies Registration Act of 1860. The motive of PATH is to work as a facilitator to give momentum to the ongoing process of sustainable development over and above sustainable livelihood. We intend to empower the people to become the carrier of development of their own as well as the community. We intend to create a network of these individuals in order to maximize the impact of their efforts.

History of the Cooperative Movement of Rickshaw Pullers:

Rickshaw is popular conveyance, everywhere in India, indeed in most of the parts of world now and it’s popularity has increased due to the rapid pace of urbanization. As the scheme for ameliorating the weaker section of populace, it was thought that the rickshaw pullers, who are very poor, and also exploited heavily, should be formed in to a cooperative. This cooperative should not only supply them with rickshaws, but also take upon itself, the other amenity activities, such as:Including in them the habit of thrift,Provision of sheltersProvision of recreational facilities andA workshop to attend to minor repair of rickshaws The first society to be registered in Delhi in the year 1955 under the name of ‘Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative Industrial Society’ with membership of 24 and share capital Rs 345. By June 1964 its membership stood at 451. The society owned 150 Cycle Rickshaws and 30 Scooter Rickshaws. A scheme was drawn up in the year 1959, in which societies were offered financial assistance, in the form of loan up to a maximum of Rs 20,000, repayable in 7 years, to be used for purchasing rickshaws. Further a society was to be given Rs 900 for 3 to 5 years for ‘Managerial Subsidy’. The number of societies rose from 45 in 1960 to 97 in 1962-63. Since hard cart pliers and reda pullers are also subject to similar exploitation, their cooperatives too have been brought in to the scheme. The management subsidy ids the same and the Central Government provides loan assistance for purchase of hand carts, subject to a maximum of Rs 10,000 per society, repayable within the period of 5 years in equal annual installments. There were 222 societies of Rickshaw Pullers at the end of 1969-70 with a membership of 9241. The share capital and working capital of the societies amounted to Rs 80 Lakhs and Rs 36 Lakhs respectively. To enable rickshaw pullers to own their auto rickshaws, the Department of cooperative, Govt. of India was allotting chassis of three wheeler auto rickshaws to deserving rickshaw pullers / auto rickshaw driver’s cooperative societies. Till the quarter ending 1971, 125 chassis had been provided to these societies in various states. But unfortunately, the movement has been stopped all of a sudden and there is no reference of such societies in the review of Cooperative Movement 1972-74 brought out by Reserve Bank of India. After 1971, situation has become adverse, financing of rickshaw pullers, somehow Delhi Cooperative society had left helping societies working for rickshaw pullers and finally societies have been broken. With the time a new class has emerged, they used to be called Rickshaw Owners / Financers and Rickshaw Contractors. Rickshaw Owners / Financers are those, who invest their money in financing the purchase of rickshaws, and Rickshaw Contractors are those, who run the business of providing rickshaws to the migrant Labourers on rent, which is Rs 30-40 per day. They are very few in number, but they have a hold on system because of their financial strength collected through rickshaw business. Initially they have purchased 50-100 rickshaws, but now in East Delhi some big players have 25000-35000 Rickshaws, which they rent out for Rs 30-40 per day and earn Rs 7,50,000 or more. This business has also involvement of bureaucrats and workers of Municipal Corporation of Delhi/NDMC, who have issued few licenses to be used commonly by Rickshaw Contractors for all his rickshaws, and certain concerned officials and staffs get paid on the monthly basis. The name of Rickshaw Contractor gets used as the password by the rickshaw pullers, who carry their rickshaw to not get caught by the officials or the staffs of MCD/NDMC. Presently, the actual rickshaw pullers are daily waged Labourers, strive hard to collect at least 90 Rs per day to pay the rent of Rs 30-40 and feed himself twice a day.

Motive of the Workshop:

Motive of the workshop was to have a look at the present scenario and plight of Rickshaw Pullers over and above brain storming on following issues:

Sessions:Tuesday, 15/12/2009

I)Cooperative formation of Rickshaw Pullers in Urban India: Incentives & Challenges II)Concept of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative and RWAs collaborationIII)Experience sharing by the Beneficiaries and Group Discussion

I)Town planning of Delhi and Rickshaw II)Role of Rickshaw in the reduction of CO2 EmissionIII)Need of Traffic Training to the Rickshaw Pullers of urban settlement in India And finallyI)Action plan on the formation of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative in Different sectors of Rohini, Delhi as a model cooperative project

Wednesday, 16/12/2009

Cooperative formation of Rickshaw Pullers in Urban India;Incentives & Challenges:

A general notion is that it is difficult to organize rickshaw pullers. Most of them are migrants. They do not operate in a place for long. Most of them return to their villages after a few months’ work. Illegal status of the rickshaw pullers makes the legal organisation almost impossible. Low returns and the poverty of the rickshaw pullers make this sector non-self-sustaining. Moreover, a sector, which does not even figure in the transport policy document of the Government, cannot be seen as strategic. But Ram Pravesh Mahto, a Rickshaw Puller and member of FORPI (Federation of Rickshaw Pullers of India) breaks this notion when he speaks aloud that the Identity Card, issued by FORPI has helped him to become a citizen of Delhi. Although he resides and carry Cycle Rickshaw in Delhi for last 27 years and many of the brokers have taken his money for issue of an Election Identity Card, but never been successful. After getting the Identity Card of FORPI, he started trying and been successful to get his Election Identity Card with the support of few more documents. He says, instead of frequent migration, non-recognition is the problem of Cycle Rickshaw Pullers of their group, who resides here in Delhi for several years. Their Land Lord/House Owners fear to give them Rent Agreement and Inspector demands lot of money as bribe to issue them Ration Card. He Says, why I will go to my native state while my whole family lives here in Delhi only. Most of the participants have shared similar opinion. Indeed participants like Hari Chander, who moves to his native village during ‘Holi’ and planting of Rabbi Crop for one month each, states that he is also like most of the other citizen of Delhi, who are not the citizen of this Metropolitan City by birth and move to their native states during vacation, but certainly three out of ten rickshaw pullers move to their native place thrice or more than three times in a year, because they do not have financial capacity to bear the expenses of more than his own. According to Md. Habib, who carries Cycle Rickshaw from Rohini East Metro Station, as far as challenges of creating a cooperative is concerned; nothing is left other than taking the responsibility of daily or weekly collection of money and depositing the money in to the bank. Also purchasing bulk goods from market and distribution amongst members could be a challenge for FORPI people, rest all have been shorted out through formation and successful unionization of Rickshaw Pullers in the shape namely FORPI by the people of PATH. Now we are mobilized and ready for any kind of bulk negotiation. Incentives have been explained by Rajeev Shekhar of PATH, which are as follows:

Concept of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative and RWAs collaboration:Invitees:Sri V P Pandey (Councelor, Rohini)Smt. Nirmala Thakur, (Councelor, Rohini)Kamaluddin, a rickshaw puller of Rohini states that people generally treat us as if we are criminals or illegal being and we do nothing but dacoit. Till the civil society start looking at us with genuine empathy, we would not be able to be considered as a service provider, though none of them are those, who never used rickshaw at least once in their life as a mode of travel to a short destination either by choice or under some coercion. He asks; “then why they treat us worst than their pets. I have heard Maneka Gandhi fights for the rights of animal, has she never saw a human rickshaw puller of their own community in a worst condition than an animal?”We have many answers to the question of Kamaluddin, but do we as a civil (human) society have ever tried to work for those, who are part of our community and leaving a live, which is not better than animal?As far as my knowledge is concerned, negligible effort have been made by us.The RWAs (Residents Welfare Associations) of our model project location, Rohini Sub City of Delhi have been approached by FORPI to associate verified rickshaw pullers of their locality with their apartment or locality for their daily household needs and safe travel of their children. In the discussion Sri S C Gupta, President, B Block RWA, Sector – 16, Rohini have stated that he certainly will try to associate rickshaw pullers, who are authorized by FORPI and they will be allowed in to the community only if they are containing FORPI ID Card.Probably this will be better for both the communities and the co operative of rickshaw puller could also supply fresh vegetable, milk, ration and many more things to them. While they can feel free from hassle of wasting lot of time in daily shopping of household goods, rickshaw pullers will be able to generate a new source of livelihood for them.

Experience sharing by the Beneficiaries and Group Discussion:

The session was technically organized and most fruitful for both, the rickshaw pullers as well as for the resource person. They both and everybody involved have learnt from the experiences of one another. An illiterate rickshaw puller, who does not have any medium of expression, has contributed in communicating his opinion through a group of five. The session has jointly been resourced by Sheik Altaf Ahmed of Prayas Institue for Social Development and Bhawna Kashyap of PATH.The rickshaw pullers have been asked to put their problems, demands, benefits of forming a cooperative and expectation from their own cooperative etc on a piece of paper. Each group had two literate rickshaw pullers and they have given an hour’s time to discuss and put things on the piece of papers.Later on the group came on the podium and shared their experiences; suggestions and demands with rest of the delegates one by one. They have been cross questioned by rest of the participants and they gave satisfactory answers to them.The experience, which they have shared, was heart breaking while the level of maturity they have shown was amazing. They have surprised their resource persons by suggesting many things, which not only benefits them, but also to the civil society. Most of the suggestions have been added in the list of Action Plan after being discussed again in the particular session finally.

Town planning of Delhi and Rickshaw:

‘Satnam Singh’ and ‘Harihar Yadav’ are the rickshaw pullers, who raises their voice against neglect of rickshaw pullers by those, who is responsible for not allowing rickshaw pullers, a separate lane, an authorized parking, a night shelter, rickshaw stands, fresh drinking water, clean toilets and many more things of a human need or indeed exploitation of rickshaw pullers by traffic constables, municipal authorized as well as fake workers etc. Although they do not know that constitution of ‘Republic of India’ have declared India as a welfare state, also it says that all citizen of India is equally important to the nation. The constitution also bestows all citizen rights to get clean drinking water, fresh air etc and privileges to use road, public toilets etc., but they know that they are a citizen of India, voters and part of Indian community and they at least should be provided basic human facilities on moral ground.Shaik Altaf Ahmed of Prayas Institute for Social Development have endowed them with a brief of their constitutional rights as a citizen of India, while Vighnesh Jha, President and CEO of PATH have briefed about the benefits and errors of Delhi Town Planning (2001-2021), he also stated that the implementation channel and very weak and not paying attention to provide benefits to the street professionals, as if they do not have any existence. Ms Jyoti Gupta of IGSSS have stated about the provision for Night Shelters as per previous 20 point program of Govt of India. Finally, the decision have been taken by the present delegates to contact policy making authorities of Dept. of Town Planning and MCD/NDMC and present them a memorandum of demands of the rickshaw pullers.

Role of Rickshaw in the reduction of CO2

Emission: Pollution, congestion and traffic fatality are alarming in Indian cities, for example Delhi is one of the 10 most polluted cities in the world and the traffic fatality in Delhi is more than double that of all other major Indian cities combined. Delhi has about 1% population of India, but as much as 10% of country’s motor vehicles. It is estimated that about 70% of the pollution in Delhi comes from the traffic. However, the non-motorized transport still remains very important in most Indian cities (and even more in the countryside), especially for the poorer sector of society. This constitutes pedestrians, bicycles, rickshaws and animal drawn vehicles. The road planners, engineers and politicians have neglected, and even looked down upon the development of this mode of transportation, though it is non-polluting, occupies much less road space and needs less infrastructure than motorized vehicles. Non-motorized vehicles have been labeled backward, merely because these are not common in the west and are patronized more by the poorer majority of the people. The environment-friendly road users have not been given recognition and their life and profession remains unsafe and inconvenient in the middle of motorized vehicles.

One aspect of the transport is energy consumption. In non-motorized mode human energy is used, where as the motorized transport uses imported petroleum, which largely contributes to the financial-strategic independence on petroleum. Over 35% of India’s petroleum consumption is in transport sector. The increase of motorized transport has also raised the amount of imported petroleum and set the Indian economy under a stress and dependence on crude oil prices. Besides environmental problems, the motorized vehicles also contribute to congestion, noise and insecurity in the roads.

The cycle rickshaw was first invented and used in Japan in the end of 19th century, and the word rickshaw comes from a Japanese word Jinn Rake Shaw, meaning literally a hand-powered vehicle. The cycle rickshaw spread rapidly in the Indian cities in 1930s and 1940s, first in Calcutta. Nowadays, in Delhi over 50% of the journeys are estimated to be shorter than 5 km, which means that bicycles and rickshaws have a great importance in transportation, both for persons and for goods. It has been estimated that the proportion of cycle traffic is more than 30% of the total traffic in the peak hours on many arterial roads and even on highways. A large number of people have no other choices than cycling or walking, because approximately 28% of the households in Delhi have a monthly income of less than 2000 rupees and not many households can spend more than 10% of the income on transport.

Need of Traffic Training to the Rickshaw Pullers of urban settlement in India:

The general notion about Bicycle and Rickshaw is that the one, who is riding these vehicles, does not need any specific training, but, in this workshop, we discovered the truth that the traffic training to the Bicycle and Rickshaw Pullers are must, and they, themselves advocates this training and excepts troubles and fear of not being trained for traffic rides. The most immigrant rickshaw pullers come from Bihar, Assam, Bengal, Orissa, Tripura, Tamil Nadu and even Bangladesh.Rickshaw pullers, such as Pawan Yadav, Arjun Giri, Julmi Ray and many more feels that often they meet small or big road accidents, because they mostly are illiterate or semi literate and cannot manage to know all traffic rules themselves. On top of it, State Governments, specifically, Govt. of Delhi does not have any provision of providing traffic training to the rickshaw and cycle drivers. Although they have normally great command on their rickshaws, but they are unaware of many road signs. If they ever go to any traffic constable to ask them about signs, he will start beating them and also will demand bribe for their release.They all have demanded that FORPI should intervene and either demand traffic training by the Department or should design an innovative model of training jointly with the department. Also to manage a license after being trained, so, they could not be harassed by Traffic constables.

Anurag Sharma of PATH has made them know the basic traffic signs.

Action plan on the formation of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative in Different sectors of Rohini, Delhi as a model cooperative project: - I

A brief about the issues arrived:Traditionally the rickshaw designs vary considerably from one part of India to the other. Bicycles, being an industrial product, have been improving in design and technology, but the design of cycle rickshaws has remained stagnant, inefficient and wasteful in the use of human energy. The main deficiencies include inefficient brakes, single gear, poor suspension, high weight of the rickshaw and uncomfortable seats for passengers and the puller. Ram Shobhit Mahto, a rickshaw puller, says that if rickshaws from a particular company have been bought mistakenly by any rickshaw puller, he may get tuberculosis or some other disease soon as a punishment for buying particular rickshaw.Therefore the most import decision, which has been taken that the rickshaw design should be researched and modified. Even the latest modified design has many errors and should be re modified and a shock observer should be added to make rickshaw comfortable for aged and pregnant ladies also and provided the same to the cooperative.In the fast moving world of motorized traffic, it is difficult for the rickshaw puller to drive safely. It is difficult for the rickshaw pullers to cope up with the heavy traffic around. For the traffic police rickshaws are the biggest nuisance elements on the road. Since rickshaws come under the slow moving traffic, Motor Vehicles Act is not applicable for them. "Roads are designed in such a manner that there is no space left for rickshaws." An authority of Traffic said in a meeting before the workshop that, they are concerned about the smooth moving of traffic without any hindrance to the public, welfare of every individual is not the responsibility of Delhi Traffic Police. Ultimately, it seems that they are the second class citizen and does not have the right to work for their livelihood in the city which accommodates many million people. Not just, and the Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, Department of Planning as well as Transport Department shall have to ponder to provide the bicycle riders and rickshaw pullers a separate lane.

Action plan on the formation of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative in Different sectors of Rohini, Delhi as a model cooperative project: - IIVery few rickshaw pullers are owners of their vehicles. The rickshaws are owned by a few

businessmen who rent it out. The business they run is illegal. "According to bye-laws of MCD, a person is not supposed to own more than a single rickshaw. But, due to the illiteracy and fear of not getting the status of legal residents of Delhi, hardly any Rickshaw Pullers have any bank account or saving habit. "Delhi Municipal Cycle Rickshaw Policy 1982" - a scheme for the issue of cycle rickshaw licenses on puller-cum-owner basis was formulated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in accordance with the MCD Cycle Rickshaw Bye-laws, 1960 as amended up to 1976 and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India in its judgment of 5 August 1980 (in C.W.P. No.728 and 841 of 1980). The scheme extends to the whole territory of MCD Delhi, except the area specifically excluded or banned for plying cycle rickshaws. According to the scheme 15 per cent of the licenses will be reserved for the Scheduled Caste and 7.5 per cent for the Scheduled Tribe candidates. The most interesting part of the scheme is the issuance of an eligibility certificate for loan. MCD will issue a certificate for the applicant/puller which will help for in applying for a loan to the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda or any other nationalized Bank for advance of loan up to Rs 900 and in special cases for a larger sum according to the increased cost of cycle rickshaws. The scheme exists only in papers. Rickshaw pullers are not aware of the schemes and those who are aware do not utilize the facility. The banks are also reluctant to implement this scheme.

For getting license officially one will have to pay Rs 50 and unofficially it will be Rs 200 to Rs 2500. "Then comes all the expenses of repairing the vehicle, taking it out from the clutches of traffic police as well as MCD authorities - all these expenses are met by a Rickshaw Puller, who is not an owner, but mere a labour. As far as the MCD authorities are concerned dispensing of license is a simple procedure. But according to rickshaw pullers and owners “it is the most difficult task if you are not willing to give bribe". According to the Bye-law:” Any License to be granted to any person under these bye-laws shall be a license with photograph affixed there, and the expenses incurred shall be borne by the licensee. These charges shall be on actual cost basis as determined by the Commissioner from time to time”.” In reality, they are very hesitant to issue driving license. If the MCD issue a license it will be after taking Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, over and above the actual fee of Rs 50," complains a rickshaw puller. Consequently, in Delhi, very few rickshaw pullers have licenses. On top of it, when the MCD authorities impound a rickshaw it should be relieved in 15 days time. The authorities do not keep the rickshaw after 15 days. They dismantle it and auction the scrap.” Any cycle rickshaw found plying for hire without a license or found driven by a person not having proper license as provided under bye-law 2((1) and (2) shall be liable to be seized by the commissioner or a person duly authorized by him in this behalf" states a notification of Delhi Municipal Corporation (rickshaw bye-laws, 960) issued on 22 June 1994 by the Department of Urban Development.  The notification further states that "The cycle rickshaw, so seized shall be disposed off by public auction after dismantling, deformation of such process including smashing it into a scrap after a reasonable time as may be decided by the Commissioner from time to time. The sale proceeds of the public auction after deducting the expenses of the auction and other departmental charged/dues shall be distributed equally amongst owners of the seized cycle rickshaws put to auction, who come forward within 30 days of public auction. In case no owner comes forward for claiming amount then the sale proceeds of public auction shall be deemed to be the

municipal funds and the same shall be deposited in the municipal treasury".

Action plan on the formation of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative in Different sectors of Rohini, Delhi as a model cooperative project: - III

Like any other migrant workforce, housing is a major problem for rickshaw pullers. Most of the rickshaw pullers stay in jhuggies or unauthorized colonies. People, who come leaving their family back, cuddle themselves in the corner of the owners' workshop. "Many a time we sleep on our rickshaws," says Kesar Das. “It gives us a feeling of security, because there is no fear of rickshaw being stolen." It’s almost impossible to understand that after putting the plan of providing Night Shelters in the 20 Point Agenda of Government of India many years ago, why implementing agencies hides their faces then onwards after few works on field and few on papers? FORPI Should have start advocacy for both night shelters and separate parking. Rickshaw pullers do not have a union and it is difficult to organize rickshaw pullers. The general notion about Rickshaw Pullers was that there is no unity among the rickshaw pullers. Most of them are migrants. They do not operate in the city for long. They return to their villages after few months of work. Illegal status of the rickshaw pullers makes the legal organisation almost impossible. Low returns and the poverty of the rickshaw pullers make this sector non-self-sustaining. Moreover, a sector, which does not even figure in the transport policy document of the government, cannot be seen as strategic.With the emergence of FORPI, the unionization of Rickshaw Pullers took place with the time and lot’s of effort and hard work made it possible in North West Delhi initially as a model project. Now around 1000 rickshaw pullers are unionized in the locality and after being verified, they carry a FORPI Identity Card with them. On 12th December, 400 to 500 rickshaw puller members of FORPI were the part of ‘Global Day of Climate Action’, a camp organized primarily by ‘Green Peace Foundation’ to react to the proceedings at Copenhagen. The Limit of participants from each ‘Sector Governing Council’ of FORPI was only 10, while their enthusiasm and devotion made us permit 20. Now FORPI has been given the mandate of organizing rickshaw pullers of whole Delhi, and we are serious to get in to it very soon with the help and support of some Government as well as Non Government enterprises /

organizations after successful formation of ‘Sanchay-Path’, a rickshaw puller’s cooperative. Etcetera . . .

The cooperative of rickshaw pullers to be worked under the support and guidance of FORPI and PATH has been named as; ‘Sanchay Path’ with the thumping majority.

The ‘General Secretary’, ‘Treasurer’ and the ‘Promoter/Chairman’ has been appointed after the nominations from Sector Governing Council election. The responsibility of General Secretary has been given to Pawan Yadav, while Treasurer to Julmi Ray by thumping majority. Vighnesh Jha has been chosen as the Chairman/Promoter of the cooperative with total consensus. Arjun Giri has been appointed as the Secretary of Member’s Council. Membership Fee of Rs. 120 has been fixed up for new entrants, while 60 for those, who are already the members of

FORPI.

Action plan on the formation of Rickshaw Puller’s Cooperative in Different sectors of Rohini, Delhi as a model cooperative project: - IV

The formation of ‘Sanchay Path’ a cooperative of Rickshaw Pullers shall be formulated today itself and shall become active now.

Initiate functioning as a purchase cooperative instantaneously in the track of building up means to be able to start getting remuneration of being organized.

Formation of SHGs of Rickshaw Pullers, to inculcate saving habits amongst them, as well as to assist them to create their goodwill with the bank, so that, they could easily get their rickshaw financed from the bank. On the other hand, to reduce the cases of non-payment of bank debt by an individual rickshaw puller in absence of peer pressure and accountability within their own community.

Two SHGs has immediately been formed, namely: ‘Swa-Sahayata’ and ‘Swa-Nidhi’ by the present rickshaw pullers. Establish a channel of communication with ‘American India Foundation’, the Nodal Monitoring Agency for getting

rickshaw financed from ‘Punjab National Bank’ under their ‘Jan Mitra’ Rickshaw Finance Scheme, while continue the same with ‘Punjab National Bank’, which has already been started in the month of June 2009.

Unionize all the rickshaw puller under the umbrella of FORPI in the process of helping local administration to recognize them and initiate wellbeing effort for them.

Start a process of dialogue with ‘Transport’ over and above ‘Traffic Department’ to begin a process of making them aware of traffic rules as well as to start a licensing to recognize trend rickshaw pullers.

Sustain a dialogue with MCD/NDMC for the licensing of genuine Rickshaw Pullers, who works for many years in the same locality and to terminate licenses of Rickshaw Owners, who manage to carry on with thousands of Rickshaw with very few licenses in his or her name and have control over rickshaw pulling industry as well as rickshaw pullers as their bounded labour.

Assist Rickshaw Pullers to be recognized by local RWAs with the motive to increase their income and provide society a committed and authentic service provider.

Set up an exchange of ideas with D.D.A., Town Planning Department, Commonwealth Games Authority and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in the course of providing rickshaw pullers with night shelters, separate parking, separate lane etc.

Help them out in getting a flawless design of rickshaw, which also have dynamo, front/ rear light and battery to provide rickshaw puller some help in carrying his passenger, as well as shocker etc. to give comfort to his passengers.

Assist them to get social security through various insurance policies designed for poor over and above against the accidents.

Attach them with various health schemes, which are extremely indispensable for them, such as Tuberculosis diminution, because, most of them suffer from this disease after a certain age and HIV, because, many of them are migrants and resides bachelor for many months at a stretch

Following agendas has been set for ‘Sanchay Path’:

Workshop Attendance:Day - I

Attendance: Day-II