Protesting rickshaw pullers refuse rides to govt employees in Allahabad

According to Ansari,as many as 200 government officials were denied a ride on rickshaws,following the boycott. The rickshaw pullers said the boycott would continue till the local civic body fulfills their demands. They also threatened to go on an indefinite strike if their demands were not met within a month.

The union also submitted a memorandum to the municipal commissioner and said that local bodies in all major cities of the state — Kanpur,Lucknow,and Agra — have been provided with facilities like rickshaw stands and night shelters (rain baseras).

There is a provision for annual health check-up of rickshaw pullers in many cities but not in Allahabad,they said. “In the absence of any officially allotted space,the traffic police harass us. There are instances when rickshaw pullers have died of cold in the absence of rain baseras,” said Bhallu Pasi,a rickshaw puller.

The civic body,however,said there is hardly any space left for setting up rickshaw stands due to encroachment.

“The encroachment of roadsides and public places near the railway and bus stands has left no space for setting up rickshaw stands. We are trying to find suitable places for rickshaw pullers,” said Municipal Commissioner Ashok Kumar.