Rourkela: The bell of a cycle rickshaw has become a thing of past as rickshaw pullers at important intersections of the city have been replaced by auto rickshaws or cabs.
While the change in life style and stiff competition has drastically reduced their numbers in Rourkela, the rise in day’s temperature has added to the woes of this small group.
Many have already left the profession while a few others, who have been in the trade for generations, struggle to make both ends meet.
“Earlier, we used to earn something around Rs400 a day which has come down to a paltry Rs 100 or even less. It is becoming increasingly difficult to live,” said Sikandar Nayak of Bihar who has no option but to live inside the rickshaw round the clock instead of taking a house on rent.
Babul Sahoo, a native of Cuttack, who has been in the city for several years, said the scorching heat over last 15 days has made their life miserable as people prefer to hire cars and auto rickshaws than rickshaws.
Most of the rickshaw pullers, expecting a customer or two, wait endlessly either under trees or inside their rickshaws at important places like Traffic Gate, Bishra Chhak, Panposh, Chhend, Rangila Chhak of Fertilizer Township and Kalinga Vihar.
Some of them who have been in the city over decades couldn’t control their tears while narrating their woes.
“I have been pulling rickshaws in the lanes of this city for 20 years. The increasing number of auto rickshaws has affected our living. I don’t know what to feed my family with just Rs50 which I earned today,” said Tehmul Mohammad of Santoshpur under Bishra police limits near Orissa-Jharkhand border.
Echoing similar sentiments, Biku Pandit of Jharkhand said the rickshaw stand near Traffic Gate has been his home for 25 years. “Forget about the income, the trees have become our saviour during this unbearable summer,” he added.
The district administration should take some measures to help out these poor rickshaw pullers, felt some locals. PNN