BENGALURU: For many people, it may be just two more weeks of the lockdown, but for autorickshaw drivers in the city, it’s another fortnight with zero earnings.
Vasanth Kumar KM, 46, from Nandini Layout, has been driving an auto for more than 20 years now. He used to earn Rs 800 a day and pay Rs 250 for LPG and Rs 200 auto rent before the lockdown. His income is now down to zero.
“I’m the sole breadwinner for my family and I don’t have money to buy even a packet of milk. I have two school going children. We have not received support from anyone so far. We are surviving now because of the 20kg rice from the ration shop. There is no money in the house to buy vegetables,” said a teary-eyed Vasanth.
He is not alone. Karnataka has over five lakh registered autorickshaws, including 2.1 lakh in Bengaluru alone. “My house owner asked me to pay rent but I told him I’m not in a position to do so. Now, electricity and water bills are also due and I’ve no idea how I’m going to pay. Some drivers are now plying in the city, but this isn’t my own vehicle. If police seize it, I’ll be answerable to the owner and will also have to pay fines,” he said.
With Bengaluru being in the red zone, the government has prohibited movement of autorickshaws and taxis, but many are forced to run to make both ends meet.
Syed Sadiq, an auto driver from HBR Layout, said: “I have a five-member family, including an ailing mother. My relatives helped me with essential items like rice and oil. I resumed duty on Monday, but there are no customers. I work between 6am-11am and 4pm-8pm. Earlier, I used to earn between Rs 300-Rs 400 per day. But now I get only Rs 200. When there are no office goers, how will we earn?”
Asked if he is scared to ferry unknown people, he said: “I am aware about the risk factors, but my family will go hungry if I don’t work. I wear a mask and also apply sanitiser after receiving cash from customers.”
Vasanth Kumar KM, 46, from Nandini Layout, has been driving an auto for more than 20 years now. He used to earn Rs 800 a day and pay Rs 250 for LPG and Rs 200 auto rent before the lockdown. His income is now down to zero.
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This is another example of the devastation caused by the pandemic. While the focus is justly on the patients, the ripple effects of Covid-19 will affect millions of people in India indirectly. But allowing autos to resume plying can cause the virus to spread faster - as all forms of public transportation carry a measure of risk. The only thing that can be done is to increase the support and safety offered via public distribution systems. The challenges faced by the government - both at state and central levels - are great indeed. We can only hope they are up to the task.
“I’m the sole breadwinner for my family and I don’t have money to buy even a packet of milk. I have two school going children. We have not received support from anyone so far. We are surviving now because of the 20kg rice from the ration shop. There is no money in the house to buy vegetables,” said a teary-eyed Vasanth.
He is not alone. Karnataka has over five lakh registered autorickshaws, including 2.1 lakh in Bengaluru alone. “My house owner asked me to pay rent but I told him I’m not in a position to do so. Now, electricity and water bills are also due and I’ve no idea how I’m going to pay. Some drivers are now plying in the city, but this isn’t my own vehicle. If police seize it, I’ll be answerable to the owner and will also have to pay fines,” he said.
With Bengaluru being in the red zone, the government has prohibited movement of autorickshaws and taxis, but many are forced to run to make both ends meet.
Syed Sadiq, an auto driver from HBR Layout, said: “I have a five-member family, including an ailing mother. My relatives helped me with essential items like rice and oil. I resumed duty on Monday, but there are no customers. I work between 6am-11am and 4pm-8pm. Earlier, I used to earn between Rs 300-Rs 400 per day. But now I get only Rs 200. When there are no office goers, how will we earn?”
Asked if he is scared to ferry unknown people, he said: “I am aware about the risk factors, but my family will go hungry if I don’t work. I wear a mask and also apply sanitiser after receiving cash from customers.”
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