Build 40 toilets for migrant workers in India

Dear friends,

Everyday large numbers of people migrate from rural to urban areas causing unplanned and explosive growth of cities in India. A vast majority of these migrant workers get absorbed into various unorganized sectors. A significant number of migrant workers take up cycle rickshaw pulling to support their families back in their villages.

Pulling cycle rickshaw is one of the easiest ways they can get employed because it doesn’t require any formal education or job application. However, it is one of the most physically demanding jobs. They have to paddle the cycle rickshaw in harsh weathers all day long for as low as few hundred rupees a day. Most rickshaw pullers cannot afford a cycle rickshaw so they take one on rent. After they pay the daily rent and send home some for their families, they practically have nothing left for their own sustenance. That’s why many of them don’t rent a house. Instead, they sleep on their rickshaws, at the railway stations or at the rickshaw garages. An estimated 2 million cycle rickshaws ply the roads in India. It is believed that the actual number could be much higher than this.

Maitri has been working among Rickshaw Pullers (RPs) in Ranchi City, Jharkhand, India since 2012. Most of these RPs live in dire poverty, with a lack of adequate housing, clean drinking water, sanitation and medical facilities. Maitri works to improve living condition, promote access to citizenship rights and other challenges Rickshaw Pullers confront on a day-to-day basis while doing an unglamorous job to sustain themselves.

Organisation of BCC camps

Amidst all forms of interventions, Maitri organises BCC camps focuses on empowering RPs and eventually their families and a larger population of the community, to make decisions based on correct information and improved understanding and to motivate them to help create positive social norms. This month a new concept was added in BCC where information on “how to behave respectfully and responsibly towards women, elderly and children” is being imparted amongst the RPs; importance and usage of UID, ration card, BPL  card, Bank account, how to take benefit pension amount, UWIN cards registration process, importance of hygiene and sanitation like keeping cooking place clean etc; inducing informed heath seeking behavior etc.; the concepts of identity, dignity and respect and correlating them with the RPs  vocation of rickshaw pulling and their life as a whole.BCC camps provide thrust on generating awareness, disseminating information and behavioral change amongst the RPs. Important case studies are collected after the BCC session.

Case study- Here is how your help has made him take a descision in life

One of our benefeciaries had been in the vocation of rickshaw pulling for past many years (7 – 8 years) before switching to e-rickshaw some six months before. He said that he was quite satisfied with his prior vocation. He added, “I raised my family quite well with the money I earned from rickshaw pulling. I used to earn INR 400-500/- almost every day. But when I got an opportunity to drive e-rickshaw, I decided to try it.”

When he started driving e-rickshaw, his daily income increased considerably (INR 600- 800/- per day). He liked the change and embraced the change positively. As he got used to driving e-rickshaw and e-rickshaws started to become prominent on Ranchi roads, traffic rules and regulations on them started to form and come to fore. With this, the
daily income of e-rickshaw drivers got affected to some extent. He shared that his daily income came down to almost half of what he was earning before, that is, INR 200- 300/- per day. Although, he manages to earn at least INR 400/- on some days, daily average income has reduced.

As a matter of fact, He is earning less than what he used to earn on a daily basis as a rickshaw puller. But he has no regrets. He stated,

“Rickshaw pulling is a vocation that is close to my heart. My family thrived on it. But today when I have changed my profession, I don’t wish to go back to rickshaw pulling again. Several factors are their like physical comfort, less labour etc. but most importantly, I feel it has given me a status. People in general look down upon rickshaw pullers but the attitude is not same for an e-rickshaw driver or for nay driver for that matter. There is a sense of respect and feel good factorassociated with being an e-rickshaw driver than a rickshaw puller.”

He said that he could have never thought of switching his job and do something else if e-rickshaw did not come into scene. The transformation was easy and it serves him and his family well. He is positive that in coming days the traffic rules will loosen up gradually and as such, the daily income of e-rickshaw pullers will increase eventually.

Since Maitri also promotes alternate livelihoods for the RPs, this comes across as a positive case study.

 We thank you, our loyal donors, for joining hands with us in coming along side with Rickshaw Pullers and helping them actively participate in improving their lives. We will keep you updated on the progress we make and the lives we transform!

Dear Maitri friend,

Maitri wants to share a story of success that will inspire generations. Among all our benefeciaries, Maitri wants to take pride in sharing the journey of a woman as a rickshaw puller.

Driving her way; 

This case study is of 25 years old woman who is an e-rickshaw driver from Guddu garage. Maitri is happy tp share  a story of resilience and women power that reflects that when need arises, there is no job a woman can’t do. Also poverty is not only limited to a class that is illiterate, but it can also adversely affect those who are educated and were once well off.

This young   woman is married to one of our benefeciary who works a private coalfieds and earns a meagre amount. They have a son who studies in standard 4.  The couple bought an e-rickshaw on loan and lend it on rent to a person to drive. The purpose was to increase their income and support the family. But the e-rickshaw became a liability for them as it often broke down. The driver who used to run it often came with the e-rickshaw either broke down. He also did not give proper rent amount and never on time. Having faced so much of complications in renting the erickshaw, they decided to stop using the service.

Struggling to make ends meet, She decided to start driving E rickshaw. With her husband's support ,she started driving it.She has been driving e-rickshaw and takes pride in being the only women driver from this garage. She commands respect.

 “I drive daily from 11 am to 6pm in the route from Kutchehry chowk to High court. I earn around 600 INR per day.

I am happy that I made this decision”.

She was a graduate and tried for government jobs as well but could secure none. So in the face of adverse poverty, when her education also could not land her into a job, her good decision making skill and confidence (that she owes to her education only) led herto tread on an unconventioanl path and succeed. She is a shining example of women
power as well as a believer that no work is inferior.

Activities and health camp 

This month, Maitri, Ranchi, was invited to attend a daylong workshop on Basics of Complete Street organized by Institute for Transport & Development Policy (ITDP). Some other ngos like Maitri, CHSJ, Jagori, MHT, and Citizens Foundation were part of the same.

 The workshop involved presentations that discussed the accidental inaccuracy in street design wherein they explained how in designing streets there is often more accidental mistake rather than deliberate ones with examples from different cities; the basic principles of complete street design wherein the principles of street design, elements of street, different street typologies, issues and challenges .

 Such a workshop also helped our beneficiaries to be aware about what complete street is, and involved them in getting important suggestions and inputs for developing a holistic street design manual, which Jharkhand government is going to prepare.

 Apart from this,. This month Maitri organized health camps in Dhananjay Garage, Pawan Garage and Vijay garage. Health is an issue which Maitri looks at very seriously. Owing to their financial limitations and harsh working conditions most RPs and their family cannot afford proper healthcare. Our health camps are a means to bridge the gap in the healthcare system. Regular check-ups have helped the target population get treatment and bring in awareness about their health conditions

 Major cases of body ache; especially leg pain, back pain and whole body pain are seen due to the nature of their job. Due to seasonal change, majority of the Rickshaw pullers were found to be affected by fever and cold. Majority of them have problems of gastric and indigestion as well as worms were common here.

 Thank you for giviging us a platform where we can salute such stories .

We couldn’t do it without your support.

Thank you friend!