Rickshaw Puller Editorial Photo

There are more than 18,000 rickshaws plying the streets of Kolkata, nearly 6,000 of whom are registered with the city government. During Kolkata’s monsoon rains, when the streets are regularly flooded, rickshaws are a used widely, even for trips as short as across the street. The rickshaw-wallahs are also busy during the sweltering months of spring and summer, when walking the streets can seem a hellish ordeal. During these times, the Rickshaw Puller’s Union claims that its members earn approximately Rs. 100 ($2.25) per day, though this figure is almost surely exaggerated.