In recent months these rickshaw wallahs, despite their previous protests, have run into danger as the Calcutta government wishes to ban their use. The problem lies not only in their poor levels of safety but the legality of their use. It was estimated in 1992 that over 30,000 rickshaws were operating in Calcutta with all but 6,000 of them running without a license (no new licenses have been issued since 1945). As a result, the government have decided to use low profile methods to drive them off the streets, regardless of how unlawful they may be. Many are beaten up by taxi drivers who find them running in their path and others are thrown into prison by policemen attempting to enforce bans of rickshaws. Abdul Sattar, a veteran rickshaw puller, says: “Come Friday and local police begin to raid the areas where we pull our rickshaws. Often we are locked inside the police stations and fined. If you don’t pay the fine, you end up staying longer in the police station. We consider ourselves extremely lucky if we avoid a beating.”
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