SIDBI, US NGO join hand to fund rickshaw pullers

LUCKNOW - Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and America India Foundation (AIF), patronised by former US president Bill Clinton, have joined hands to transform the lives of poor rickshaw pullers by making them economically independent.

As many as 500 rickshaw pullers were provided brand new cycle-rickshaws against a down payment of Rs.266 each and the same amount to be given as equal weekly instalment.

“In one year’s time, each of these 500 rickshaw pullers will become owners of their rickshaws,” AIF India director Hanumant Rawat told IANS at a special function organised here Monday.

“So far, we had to shell out anything ranging between Rs.30 to Rs.35 a day to the rickshaw owner as the daily hiring fee. But now, for the same amount we would own our rickshaws,” said Ashok Kumar.

While the rickshaws were being funded by SIDBI, other necessary requirements were being met by AIF.

These included issue of licences as well as a complete insurance package covering their rickshaws and health.

According Rawat, “As many as 8,100 rickshaws have been distributed in Uttar Pradesh over the past 18 months since AIF took up this project for economic upliftment of the poor in the unorganized sector.”