Socio-Economic Condition of A Rickshaw Puller of Bangladesh- A Study on Dhaka City

Abstract

Rickshaw is a very popular and essential transportation in Dhaka that assures significant job opportunities for the uneducated and poor people. When clean Dhaka is a burning issue to us where rickshaw plays a positive role by giving pollution free services. This profession attracts huge number of poor, illiterate and unskilled persons for easy way of cash earnings. This survey is being conducted to examine the socio economic conditions of rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city. We have considered different variables to complete this survey such as rickshaw pullers’ age, education, previous job, income, savings, expenditures, loans and others. This survey is being conducted based on primary data which has been collected from different areas of Dhaka city. Primary data has been collected through structured questionnaire from100 rickshaw pullers of different areas in Dhaka city. Rickshaw pullers are one of the most disadvantageous and unlucky people who are involving in informal sector such as rickshaw pulling which is more stressful work for earning money. Majority of the respondents of this survey have come from different areas of Bangladesh like Barisal, Rangpur, Comilla, Nilphamary, Mymansing and others. Among the 100 rickshaw pullers, 66% respondents were in the ages from 26 – 50 years and about 14% were under the ages of 26 years. However some older participants were also found in the survey. Most of the rickshaw pullers are married and their family members depend on rickshaw pulling for livelihood. Majority of the rickshaw pullers have come from the working background of agriculture and day laborers. High living cost and poverty force them to change profession and encourage them to choose rickshaw pulling to earn more money. From this survey it is found that more than 50% rickshaw pullers staying in Dhaka city with their family in rental house and remaining people select garage, mass or slum area to stay with other rickshaw pullers for saving money from rental cost. Majority of the rickshaw pullers pull rickshaw for seven days in a week, average working hours in a month is 211 hours and 53% of rickshaw pullers pulling rickshaw for 7 to 8 hours in a day. This survey shows that 76% of their total income comes from pulling rickshaw and 18% from other sources. After pulling rickshaw, they involve in other works like vendor or part time worker. Another 6% comes from other family members who are involved in as a maid or garments worker. However their net saving is only 3% and only 24% rickshaw pullers have the ability to save some money after meeting up all expenditures. They spend 78% of their total income for food and house rent. Under the balance of income issue, 57% of rickshaw pullers are staying in deficit balance of income. To overcome deficit balance of monthly income they give first priority to borrow money from their relatives. They also borrow money from bank to meet up the expenditures. For example, to manage dowry for daughter’s marriage, for crops cultivation or to build or repair home they also borrow. Repayment percentage is only 8% among the borrowers showing their inability which push them to debt trap for year after year. It can be summarized from the findings that taking rickshaw pulling cannot be a permanent profession considering physical stress. It can be taken as an alternative profession when no other ways are available for them. It cannot be regarded as a permanent way of overcoming poverty.