Roundtable on Livelihoods and Financial inclusion

of Rickshaw PullersOrganised by

United Nations Development Programme 19th November 2013

 Venue

National Institute of Urban AffairsIndia Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi -110003

By Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarmah, (Ashoka Lemelson Fellow)

Founder Rickshaw Bank & Executive Director, Centre for Rural Development.

PEOPLES’ MINDSET:

the Road is for you. You get “first priority” to do whatever you like.

you are “At your Own Risk”. If possible, install eyes at the back of your head.

you are “illegal” and there is no space for you on the road. Be thankful we are not throwing you out.

“Stay at home”!

Cars

Cyclist & Pedestrian

Rickshaws

Physically challenged

MEDIUMS OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Requisite mode of transport in all cities

Convenient for short term distances

Essential mode of mobility within one’s vicinity

Provides Accessibility at Low cost

Energy efficient and Eco-friendly source

Promotes Social Employability

Access to livelihood for unskilled and semi-skilled workers

RICKSHAW PULLER IN

INDIA

10 million ricksha

w pullers

Seasonal

migrants,

unskilled and semi

skilled laborer

s

Rickshaw are hired

on rent basis. Money earned by them mostly goes to ricksha

w owner

Informal Sector - Lack

of identity.

Lives in slums, unauthorized colonies or on streets.

Modified Tricycles

Widely used in Urban and Semi Urban Areas

WHAT IS RICKSHAW ?

Self utilized by People

Run by a Rickshaw Puller

20 Mil.

Improving informal transport: Challenges and solutions

Rickshaw Bank 7

Social

TechnicalFinancial

Rickshaw Bank 8

Social/ Admini-strative

Financial

Technical

Social recognitionIdentityLicensing (single/hire)Seized/disposedTraffic

Rickshaw designSeparate laneTrainingParking space

MigrantFinanceInsuranceSocial security

Changes to rickshaws (shown on left):

• Aero-dynamically designed, thus lighter

• More spacious• More attractive to

clients• Comfortable for all

age groups• Longer life• Rickshaw

designed by IIT, Guwahati

Old vs. Rickshaw Bank

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Our Solution:

A newly designed rickshaw payable through a minimal daily installment.

Micro Asset Loans for Ownership of the rickshaw,

Insurance, uniform, licenses, a photo ID

Training, health care, cooking gas etc.

Improvement of Rickshaw Pullers

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• Eye/ Healthcare

• Family planning

Provide for Drivers: • Income

• Potential savings

• Access to financial institutions

• Insurance• Licenses• Photo IDs

• Peer learning meetings

• Uniform• Training• Maintenance

• Children’s schooling

• Clothing• Cooking gas

Provide for families:

An Asset:A Rickshaw

One Window Solution

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OPERATING MODEL

RP (Rickshaw Puller)

RP 1

RP 2

RP 3

RP 4

RP 5 RP GROUP Collection/Meetings/Repair

Creation of New Entrepreneurs

Different types of rickshaws

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With the same

financing norms

the other carts are provided

to the people which

give an assets to own for

employment

generation.

Other Carts

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Glimpses of workshop at Guwahati

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Government of Assam is providing a 25% subsidy to rickshaw drivers.

Punjab National Bank(PNB) has taken up the initiative with their own scheme for the Rickshaw Finance. We initiated the programme and than hand it over to the local organisation.

Expansion with the partnership

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ONGCIOCHLLAIFDST, GOI. Government of AssamPunjab National

Bank/Union BankUN Solution ExchangeAshoka AIESECIndian Red CrossSandeep EnterprisesAFNA

IIT, GuwahatiMIT, BostonOlin College of Engineering Northeastern UniversityYale UniversityGuwahati Medical College

Collaborations

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A complete package of three lights (one each at front, rear and inside the rickshaw), one FM radio and a mobile charger makes our rickshaw as a High-tech rickshaw that attracts more people in general. These new high-tech carts have been able to attract the youth groups more for doing some business on their own and these carts have become a benefit for the growth of the entrepreneurship in an area that enhances the local economy in turn.

New light with Solar power

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Rickshaw bank is entered in the Case bank of the www.vikalpa.com

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The Rickshaw Bank won The Citizen Base Investment Award 2003 for its concept at National Stock Exchange Building, Mumbai in November, 2003.

IIM, Bangalore selected Rickshaw Bank project under their Microfinance Incubation Programme, during November – December, 2005.

The Change makers Innovation Award Competition: Market-Based Strategies that Benefit Low-Income Communities at National Press Club, Washington on April 5, 2006.

The Micro Finance Process Excellency Award, 2006 at New Delhi on April 7, 2006 given by the Planet Finance and the ABN Amro Bank.

The Rickshaw Bank has got its recognition in the Limca Book of Records as First Rickshaw Bank under the business section in 2006.

Recognition and Awards

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Srijan 2007 Microfinance Business Plan Competition 3rd Prize at Hyderabad on April 25, 2007.

One of the finalist of the Micro Insurance Awards, 2007 at Hyderabad on July 27, 2007

Asian Innovation Awards, 2007 at Singapore on 13th November, 2007.

The Assam Chief Minister’s Best Community Action Development Award, 2008 on August 15, 2008

India NGO Award, 2008 for the medium category from the Eastern Region.

Rickshaw bank also awarded as Best Innovative Project of the year, 2008.

Rickshaw Bank received the Tech Laureate award 2011 at San Jose, USA given by the Applied Materials & Tech Museum.

Recognition and Awards

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Rickshaw Bank 23

The Founder, Rickshaw’s Bank and Executive Director, Centre for Rural Development, Dr. Pradip Kumar Sarmah, calling on the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on August 14,2012

Innovation Partners

• Research and

Technology

Institutes

• New innovative

designs of

rickshaw can

be produced

• Both

consumer and

rickshaw puller

friendly.

• Technological

solution for the

MIS.

Sponsorship Partners

• Private and

Public Sector

Companies

• Support or

Sponsor a

Rickshaw

Puller

• Aid in

establishment

of National

Fund /

Rickshaw

Centre

• Nationalized /

Regional Bank

State Partners

• Municipal Corporations and Resident Welfare Association agencies

• to recognize and register rickshaw pullers.

• Avail rickshaw services on daily basis by the nearby residents giving legal recognition to rickshaw pullers.

• These organizations can provide them with license

• Impart training with respect to traffic rules and regulations.

Insurance / Technology

Partners • Insurance

companies property and casualty coverage will be granted to these rickshaw pullers and families.

• Government Schemes relating to Insurance of life , Health.

• Government schemes for the Pension .

LOOKING FORWARD:

Thank youDr. Pradip Kumar Sarmah 

(Ashoka Lemelson Fellow)Founder Rickshaw Bank & Executive Director

Centre for Rural Development (CRD)Email: crd4ev@yahoo.com, Mobile: + 91 9818863727Website: www.crdev.org 

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