'Self-reliance',
A radio programme presented by Prokirti Foundation

First episode
In-depth reporting on 'Rickshaw Puller'

Sebar Uddin:
It's now 30 years I am in Dhaka. I have been a farmer, but a devastating flood snatched all my lands on the bank of the river Jamuna. Loosing everything, I came to Dhaka making up my mind to drive rickshaws. I had three children all of who are now married off. Marrying them off however was a task that cost most of the amount I saved by driving the rickshaw.

Presenter:
Sebar Uddin, who has already crossed 50, is passing his life mainly by pulling rickshaw as thousands of people are doing the same as their prime source of income. Dear friends, today's field-based documentary has been made on the basis of the struggles of the rickshaw pullers.

(music: Ami rickshawala…)

Presenter:
The capital of Bangladesh has a different identity as the city of rickshaws. According to Dhaka City Corporation, there are over 90,000 rickshaws in the city. Unofficially, the estimated number of rickshaws is around six lacs, and most of the pullers hailed from various parts of the country. They chose driving rickshaws as the last resort to survival, which is a profession of hard work.

Shah Alam:
The hungry Jamuna devoured my house twice forcing me to come to Dhaka and pull rickshaws. My parents and wife live at the house I built later on a small piece of land. That is the only property in my village.

Presenter:
The young rickshaw puller Shah Alam appeared for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam thrice, but failed to succeed. That is the reason he could not manage an official job.

Shah Alam:
My daily income is two to three hundred taka. I have to submit Tk 50 to the rickshaw owner, and it takes about Tk 50 for my meals everyday. I send the rest of the money that is Tk 100 or so to my house.

(music: rickshaw bells)

Presenter:
Most of the rickshaw pullers are from the villages where they had no means to income generation. Their influx in the capital therefore is mostly in search of jobs. Let's listen to Shahar Ali, an owner of a rickshaw garage in Dhaka.

Shahar Ali:
The rickshaw pullers come from various districts like Rangpur, Kushthia, Tangail, Faridpur and Shariatpur and so on. They come to the city for rickshaw pulling mainly because they are poor. Many are also victims of river erosion.

Presenter:
There are also some rickshaw pullers who come to the city at a special time. Isn't it Shahar Ali?

Shahar Ali:
Yes, it is true. In some of the districts the day labourers or the small farmers have off seasons when they do not have much work in the fields. They then come to the capital for making some extra money, especially before the Eid, a festival in Bangladesh.

(music: flute)

Presenter:
The rickshaw owners provide the rickshaws to the pullers mainly on the basis of their connections with former pullers. They do not have to have any documents for having rickshaws. The relation between the owners and the pullers is therefore mainly based on faith that continues for years. So speaks a rickshaw garage owner Aziz Miah.

Aziz Miah:
I mainly handover rickshaws to the pullers when any former rickshaw puller recommends that he knows the new one. Then I rent the rickshaw that costs around Tk 10,000 only on faith that they will not escape, but will give my share from his income.

Presenter:
Shahidul Islam, who hails from the northern region of the country, has been running his family by driving rickshaws for the last ten years.

Shahidul Islam:
Yes, I am pretty happy. I can send money to my family and also save a portion of it I earn.

Presenter:
The rickshaw pullers, like all others, want to live in the city with other members of their families. Mohammad Nobi of Ishwarganj Upazila of Mymensingh is one of them.

Mohammad Nobi:
Surely, I have wife and a child. I want them to live with me. It is also beneficial for me that my wife and mother can earn some money by doing handicraft works when they are in Dhaka.

Presenter:
The life of the rickshaw pullers is simply bound with various troubles. Rough treatment by some of the passengers only adds salt to the injury of the rickshaw drivers.

Shahidul Islam:
They think that we should do everything the way passengers want. They treat roughly if sometimes we do not want to go to the destinations they want. "You are a rickshaw puller. You have to go where I want to go." Sometimes they even slap and scold us. There are however many good people who have sympathy for us.

(music: Rickshawala bole kare tumi ajj ghrina koro)

Presenter:
There is no any special credit for the rickshaw pullers in the traditional banking system in Bangladesh. The rickshaw pullers think their income would increase by a few times if they could drive their own rickshaws instead of hiring them from others. And, it is possible only if there would be arrangements for loan.

Mohammad Nobi:
No, bankers do not give us loans. Why should they give us money? Do we have cars, houses or land that banks will provide loans? However, if we had our own rickshaws, our fate would change rapidly with more income everyday.

Presenter:
Senior vice president of a private bank Abdul Awal spoke on the possible banking facilities for the rickshaw pullers.

Abdul Awal:
I have no idea if there is any special credit scheme for the rickshaw pullers. I think the micro-credit that has recently gained good name worldwide could be introduced for them. This will surely be a welfare-oriented banking for the rickshaw pullers.

(music: Amra korbo joy…)

Presenter:
Rickshaw has become one of the very important vehicles. The rickshaw drivers are not only surviving on it, but also getting rid of the curse of poverty. The design of rickshaws has not changed, but changes have taken place in the lifestyles of the rickshaw pullers. They can now dream that their children will be highly educated. Recently, the government also took initiative to issue licenses to them. The experts concerned think their standard of living will develop much more if the government takes long-term plan for them.

Presenter (female):
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Presenter (male):
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Presenter (male):
Good-bye to all of you, for today. And, wishing you all the best every time, wherever you are.