A persons is rags who pulls a rickshaw is called rickshaw puller. He is often seen here and there on the road, in market complexes, near cinema halls, schools, hospitals etc. He belongs to the poor class of our society and serves to the humanity whether it is rain or its chilli cold or it is scorching heat. He is ready to give his service all the time.
A rickshaw puller leads a very hard life. He earns little to meet two square meals a day for his family. He never cares for his health and pulls his rickshaw for maximum hours in a day. Apart from carrying person or persons, he carries goods like vegetables, tea and other things in the form of packed or unpacked bundles.
Nowadays some rickshaw pullers are seen engaged in carrying school children. It gives them a permanent income. And what is more, they get a change in their hard life in the company of the small children.
No matter to whom they pull, but it looks very pathetic in itself. It is really a great pity. It is the dark side of our social traditions that a man has to pull two or three persons to earn his livelihood without caring the nature of the weather. In this advanced age, when there are various transport facilities, rickshaw pulling is still in existence on a mass level. Pulling of human beings by a man is a curse upon society.
Hence, rickshaw pullers must be given full support from the Government in the form of loan so that they may purchase auto-rickshaw or may start some other business thus, they will be able to earn more money by comparatively less manual labour. It will also make their family life a little bit more comfortable. They will be able to educate their children in order to make them worthy citizens of the country.
But it does not seem that rickshaw pulling will come to a complete end because it has been in existence from a long time. Even in 18th century man used to pull Paiki or wood cart on foot, which was perhaps more miserable. Hence, so long it is in existence, it is the moral duty of common people to be sympathetic to the rickshaw pullers. Sometimes it has
been seen some people do not pay reasonable wages to them arid start quarrelling in loud voice. Poor rickshaw puller becomes helpless and satisfies himself with whatever he gets from such quarrelsome persons. We must change our attitude towards him. He gives valuable service to us. Sometimes when it is scorching heat and we find ourselves unable to walk on foot, we take his service. We sit in the shade while the rickshaw puller pulls us wiping sweat with a piece of cloth every now and then.
We must feel the rickshaw puller's misery and be a little more lenient towards him. If we donot pay him more than the
real wage, it's alright. But we should never underestimate his labour.
