Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Human Horses to be Banned

In Kolkata , West Bengal - India, Human horse i.e. human being pulling a rickshaw on which a human being sits is a common feature. These have been a feature of Kolkata's streets for more than a century. Officially there are 5,937 registered hand-pulled rickshaws, but as per unofficial estimate, it is more than 40,000 on the streets of Kolkata. How weird it is to see one man sweating and straining to pull another man. It is just inhuman.

These rickshaw pullers, just earn around Indian Rupees 100 (2.25 dollars) a day. But now the West Bengal government is planning to stop such 'Human horse' rickshaws by passing a legislation. Though it is welcomed by the people but rickshaw pullers are not happy with the government's decision.

As per one rickshaw puller, "We smile when our customers call us 'human horses'. The government will snatch our smile if the rickshaws are banned," "We have nothing to do if the rickshaws are banned, we will starve."

It is requested from West Bengal government that some rehabilitation package is planned for them before their work is stopped.

Picture Source: elizabethinindia.typepad.com

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