Help Indian Rickshaw-Pullers Become Self-Employed

The attached report has a lot of information about the Rickshaw Bank project, including new initiatives, social impact and results, case studies from rickshaw pullers, and awards received by the Rickshaw Bank project.

Below is one of the case studies, and click the full report to read more!

Deben Das is 45 years old man residing at Polokata village P.O. Muktapur in Nalbari district of Assam. He was pulling rickshaw since last 17 years on daily hire basis, where he had to give Rs.25/- daily rental for the rickshaw. His life was miserable as he was not able to save any amount for unforeseen circumstances. One day he saw a different model of rickshaw running on the road, he became curious about the new model rickshaw, and out of this curiosity he went to the puller of that rickshaw and inquired about the rickshaw, then he came to know that he got the rickshaw from some Rickshaw Bank (RB) and that puller will become the owner of the rickshaw in 13 months time. He came back home in the evening and discussed about the new rickshaw with his wife and she advised him to visit Rickshaw Bank, next day he visited RB office and he was delighted at the thought of having his own rickshaw and decided to join RB. The Field Supervisor advised him to bring 4 copies of his photographs, permanent address proof document and Rs.550/- for security cum registration money. He gathered the entire necessary requirement and went to RB office after one week and he was issued a brand new rickshaw. The new rickshaw from RB brought a new direction in his life. He was now having more passengers and his income steadily increased as it was easier to ply and he made more trips than before, and he started saving Rs. 40/- to Rs.50/- daily at the RB. Now also he purchases some clothes for his family from RB cloth distribution scheme. In his words about the other allied benefits of RB is “off course the health support cell is of great help to the poor people like us as I get cheaper medicine and medical advice. It is already six months with RB and now I have heard from the field coordinator that RB is also providing small instant loans to its member rickshaw pullers. Now I feel secured about my family and their future, thanks to Rickshaw Bank.”

• Rickshaw Bank report (DOC)