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. With your support Maitri has been able to strive for identity ,respect and dignity for rickshaw pullers.

Maitri initially identified 16 garages depending upon the number of RPs in the garage and understanding the need of the RPs in the garage, which varies from garage to garage for living condition improvement intervention. the interventions have helped :

• Change in RPs living condition. They are now managing their surroundings well by trying to keep it clean.
• The interventions have given impetus to need and subsequently demand generation on part of the RPs to avail services and products to lead a better way of life and they are willing to be able to fulfil this need by themselves only and through government schemes. They are becoming aware.
• Change in garage owners' perception in looking towards the well-being of RPs.
• RPs, with the help of garage owners, are trying to maintain the items given in the garage.
• Change in habit is seen among some RPs. Intensive BCC at the field is also helping in multiplying the effect.
• The RPs are happy with the result of the intervention and are glad that the bio toilets are as effective as they were told. They are using the toilets without any reluctance anymore and are eventually getting used to the habit to the extent that they are keen to get toilet constructed in their home for the usage of their families. Even the garage owners are demanding for construction of bio toilets in their garages.
• Beds, plastic sheets etc. comfort them from the harshness of extreme climatic and seasonal variations; protect them from insects, crawlers etc.; also, in sickness, RPs get to rest properly on a bed rather than on a bare floor or on the rickshaw; they are even motivated to use mosquito nets.
• With enrolment of the RPs under the PDS and UWIN, Maitri is trying to assist them in availing the benefits of government housing scheme.

As depicted through the graph,the change in base line (2031 RPs) from Phase 1 until evaluation phase. It reflects that the numbers of ID proof owners (RPs) have increased from 2015 to 2018. Now again, Maitri has selected 15 more garages for next phase intervention.

Sucess Story 

The benefeciary is a local rickshaw puller who hails from Ranchi only. His family includes wife and four children. With the money earned from this vocation, he is able to send his children to school. He has been in the vocation of rickshaw pulling from past 7 years.Before entering this vocation, He worked in a dairy factory in Ranchi. On being asked why he left that job and switched to rickshaw puling he said, “I worked there for years but one thing that I missed there and do not miss now is daily earning and independence. The pay was not instant. My wage was decided at INR 300/- per day but I was paid weekly or monthly. I did struggle that time to meet the needs of my family on a daily basis. It was completely unlike the vocation I chose after that and it changed my life for good.”

Thank you for sharing our vision to uplift and empower Rickshaw Pullers in Ranchi. We couldn’t do it without your support. Thank you friend!