Recent hike in auto-rickshaw rates made me think on this issue of frequent rise on the tariff of our local transport service. This post may not interest readers from outside Mumbai but they may get the feel of how Mumbaikars have to tackle everyday problems. 

I suggest two alternatives to help solve this problem. As it is, we experience that at present Auto-rickshaw drivers often refuse to accept the passenger under any pretext. When I studied the many reasons those are possible for this strange behavior of the drivers I came to know that very often the only reason for not accepting the passenger is that they do not want the business. This is so because already the rates are so high that they are earning more money than they need. One of them told me that the present rates give them so much extra income that he would prefer to relax instead of plying the vehicle and by that save the maintenance expenses. This is so because most of these drivers have a limited aspiration for income. That satisfies by running the vehicle for three to four hours per day at the present rate. They prefer to earn just enough for their needs and then prefer to relax. This explanation reminded me of other example I had seen some years back. I am referring to one mechanic working in Godrej company he had a permanent job. He would attend the factory for only 20 working days in place of 25; when I asked him why he avoids working for all the other days. He replied to me that the income of 20 days salary is good enough for his needs. After some time the company increased the salaries of the workers and after that, I found that this worker began to attend only 16 working days! When I studied the problem of shortage of house servants in the city, I found similar attitude amongst the women who work as house servants. One woman told me that previously she was doing eight to ten houses to earn enough money to run the house but as the salaries have increased, she prefers to work in only one or two houses and spend the rest time to look after her own house and family. This tendency of complacence we see in many working people here. I suggest to the human resource experts to take a note of this phenomenon, as this complacence is responsible for many problems concerning employees.   

Most auto-rickshaw drivers come in this category and we should have no need to comment on that. The question on hand is how to solve the problem of transport for local people who have to go places. One alternative is to allow more licenses to auto-rickshaws so that more vehicles shall ply on the already congested roads. When I inquired to the drivers about the rational explanation, they told me that during the time of paying the installments of loan they have taken to purchase the vehicle they work very hard and never say no to any passenger but now the things are different; all rickshaw loans are paid up and so need not run after money. These people are complacent and prefer to stay so. That means only if there is any need for extra money such as an occasion in the family for marriage or education; they shall ply the rickshaw more otherwise they would prefer to relax. 

If a rule, RTO makes so that the permit for the rickshaw will last for only five years and they have to replace the existing vehicle by the brand new one, this complacence of these people will go, as they will have to take new loan for the new vehicle.    

Other way to solve this problem is novel and I feel the concerned authorities should look into the possibility of this alternative. I suggest that students should help the stranded passengers by giving them a paid or free lift on their scooter. RTO will give permission to students to do that on their scooters. For that, the condition for wearing helmet to these passengers will be relaxed and speed limit for sixty per Kilometer imposed to avoid rash driving. The students will have to carry their identity cards along to show that they are students. 

How this will help students, I wish to explain. When I asked some students about how they would take this opportunity, they showed excitement. They told me if that were permitted, they would earn their own pocket money and also will be able to pay for their education. There are many advantages for this facility because, the pillion rider can travel to any part of the city; this is not possible for the rickshaws, they have suburban limits. 

As for rates, the bargain method between the student and the Savari (passenger) shall be the best recourse. To that, I may suggest that at the time of boarding the scooter Savari, should note the mile reading on the speedometer of the scooter and at rate 10 Rs per Kilometer or part thereof be the charge; to that, consideration by a good student for a Savari will be possible. There I see many more benefits for this alternative. Student unions should try to request RTO to allow them to help stranded passengers; passenger unions should also try to uphold this suggestion. 

If rickshaw union objects to this arrangement, RTO will make the refusal to ply the passenger an offence, punishable by a heavy penalty. I do not think that most drivers of rickshaws will ever bother to object for this arrangement; they are happy with what they get already. Public should be ready to accept this alternative since that will be the most acceptable arrangement by far in the given situation.       

You may contact me on my Email ID given below, 

ashokkothare@gmail.com 

I suggest visiting my other blogs if interested. 

Ashok Kothare for stories 

Ideas and tips on any subject for intelligent discussions.