Leveraging the Solar Rickshaws in India
The plans to adopt the Solar Rickshaw, like the ones in Delhi, in other cities such as Chandigarh make one wonder about the misplaced focus and euphoria of reducing the carbon footprint of an already zero-emission vehicle, the cycle-rickshaw.
Picture: Soleckshaw: Solar Powered Rickshaw in Old Delhi
Soleckshaws are indeed a great step forward, but in this euphoric hype several important issues and questions are conveniently pushed under the rug: the soleckshaw is about three times as expensive as the cycle-rickshaw ($440 (Rs. 22000) as against $170 (Rs 8500)); secondhand ones or those remodelled from old bicycles are cheaper still. If the rickshaw-pullers could not afford their own rickshaw at $170 (Rs 8500), how are they more likely to become proud-owners by being able to afford the $440 (Rs 22000) one? How will the rickshaw-puller be able to handle the additional costs of electric-charging, batteries, solar-panels etc., on the soleckshaw if they could not look beyond the leasing-option on the no-such-additional-costs cycle-rickshaw? The dream of making the lessee rickshaw-pullers self-reliant, proud owners too needs greater planning and market research. If not, then the Center for Rural Development’s loans for soleckshaw may well turn-out to be as faulty and nearly as “toxic” as the US housing-market ones that are responsible for current economic woes globally.
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What must also be noted is that the demand for this valuable service of ‘rickshaw-wallahs’ is far from saturated and a greater relief to society might come from simultaneous use of cycle- and solar-rickshaws, certainly while the supply-base of the soleckshaws is being built. This would help avoid a crunch till sufficient soleckshawsshould become available and that would, undoubtedly, be caused by a sudden abandonment of cycle-rickshaws.
Picture: Rickshaws pullers in Chandigarh take a break under shade
In the meanwhile, can something be done to better the cycle-rickshaws? Would it help reduce the toil of the rickshaw puller if zones for marked for rickshaws so as to render the beat manageable? Can a system be devised that would also make it practicable even if the rickshaws were loaded, like having commonly (or jointly) owned and maintained rickshaws so that one rickshaw-wallah simply swaps the rickshaw with another — load, passengers and all — at the border of the zone?
Additionally, would certain technological upgrades (cost-effectively, of course) in the cycle-rickshaw, based on the innovations of the soleckshaw, help? For example, the tyres of the soleckshaw appear bolder and sturdier than the cycle-rickshaw: is this an intended design improvement with benefits (like smoother ride or less strain on the puller) that might be, in the interim, introduced in the cycle-rickshaw to advantage?
While on the track of increasing the viability of the cycle-rickshaw, can’t ownership prospects of the old, cheaper one be improved? Why are government loans to leasee rickshaw-pullers so completely off the charts when it is willing to fund the soleckshaw-ownership? After all, the cycle-rickshaw does provide a means of transportation to millions and daily-bread to at least 500,000 rickshaw pullers in the city even if it demands back-breaking labor. Vis-a-vis the whole loan and inhumane aspect, I think a better trade-off to evaluate is whether unemployment, homelessness and hunger are better alternatives to a heavy-duty, harsh, demanding-on-the-body toil? May be, a comparison worth making would be to evaluate if labor at construction-sites is any better-off, especially when older or female populations are engaged in stone-breaking and -carting? Another thought to evaluate is whether rickshaw-wallahs are better-off without employment or if viable alternatives exist for ensuring thier means of survival?
As of now, let us not forget that the soleckshaw is in early, trial phase with critical aspects awaiting resolution. So, ‘there is many a slip between the cup and the lip’ seems to be in order.
Picture Credits: Solar Rickshaw (Courtesy: Delhi Walla), Rickshaw pullers take a break (Courtesy: Deyvia Flickr.com under Creative Commons License)
Thought provoking. It is good to go green but it is also necessary to step back and think of the “unintended” consequences.
There is no other alternative left to save earth, thus all efforts to be made to exploit the Solar energy in all works of life. A country like India, where this energy is available in excess. It is unfortunate that our country could not utilize even a minimum percentage of Solar Energy.
Whereas the country like Germany and other European countries could foresee the grive situation long back and started utilizing the ever lasting energy. All most all developed countries like USA, UK, Germany, Japan and even China exploring the ideas to utilise the Solar energy at large.
Even having all expertise and know how in India, none of big industry shown any interest and come forward and manufacure solar based products. I have been studying about the various type of tri cyle and bicyle created by the developed country and amazing to note that all the products are getting mass appeal. They have realized that to save earth from global warming and pollution the alternative energy in shapre of Solar is must.
I am particullarly interested that industries should come forward to manufacture Scooter, Rickshaws and bicyles in large volume. The Government and Non Banking Finanacial Institute should come forward to provide financial support, after all they are also part of this planet