Day3-14th July

Day3-14th July, originally uploaded by fourfirefoxes.

*Day3-14th July*



With an extended focus in mind we went into 3 groups



We (Vimal, Uttaran and Mooshir) went to Hiranandani Gardens, an affluent

locale near Powai, quite close to our campus. There we interviewed two

autorickshaw drivers who were quite a contrast. One was Sudesh, just 10 days

as a driver; and the other was Om Prakash Pandey who has been driving his

autorickshaw for about 5 years.



*Top Insights*



- Driving is often considered a temporary job

- Driving gives him a way to 'bring home the bacon' daily

- Novice drivers often forget to put on the meter



Saikat met a driver in the campus who was on his way to Thane, a suburb of

Bombay. Indrajeet is from West Bengal (another state) and has been in Bombay

for the past 5 years with his family which is a joint family including his

brother's. He came to be come a taxi driver after having done many other

jobs.



*Top Insights*



- Meters could be tampered with easily and gotten away with

- Government regulates the number of taxis by the issue of badges

- Regular clients contact the driver through mobile

- Self owned Taxi business offers more freedom than any other service



Shahid and Susheel went to Kanjur Marg railway station and met Motiram who

had been driving his autorickshaw for 15 years. He was very open to share

the intricacies and the hardships of his work. His family members work in a

cottage industry, making 'papad' to support themselves. One of his sons is

handicapped. He finds it more sensible to buy vegetables for Rs.10 than to

buy snacks. He was skeptical about card system of payment. Earns Rs.350 per

day. He doesn't have lunch, daily.



*Top Insights*



- Lost and found items have no means to be returned

- Lack of employment opportunities leads to taking up driving even at

a later stage in life

- Rickshaw is not considered safe by the drivers to keep valuable

documents

- There is no accountability of the rickshaws at the stands