AGARTALA, May 24 (TIWN): "We used to earn around ₹ 1,000 a day earlier. But since the pandemic, and after the curfew imposed, we earn a maximum of ₹ 200-300 a day. Now, banks have started calling for EMI payments. Where will I get the money from?", said e-rickshaw driver Abhijit Sarkar.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent curfew, has impacted the health, livelihood, and wellbeing of people across all sectors. The spread of the coronavirus—characterized by its speed, scale, severity, and societal and economic disruption—has disproportionately impacted the lives of the poor and vulnerable communities. The mobility sector has also been severely hit by the nationwide lockdown.

 The intermediate modes of transportation such as e-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, being critical players in both urban and rural transportation systems, have a noticeable impact on the livelihood of the people working in the sector.

 Not only their livelihood in terms of daily earnings disappeared, but they also could not service the bank loan or any other form of private loans leading to financial distress. Even though few vehicles are permitted to carry passengers who step outside for essential cause, the regular users do not feel comfortable returning to usual travel on account of keeping a safe distance from the driver. Sharing rides with other passengers is a thing of the past now.

 So in the current situation, as they are facing issues in repaying their loans, the e-rickshaw drivers appealed to the government to hold the collection of installment money by the banks for three months. Once the situation turns normal, the drivers shall work hard and repay their loans.

 Meanwhile, Bhati Abhaynagar Tripura e-rickshaw association organized a press conference on May 19. The main reason for this press conference was that in 2020, the state government announced that e-rickshaw workers will be paid Rs.1000 to cope up with the pandemic situation but in reality, the promise was not fulfilled.

 Appealing to the state government to fulfill its promise the association also demanded the Government to provide basic food items to the E-rickshaw drivers to help them from starving as they are running under huge loss due to the pandemic.

 The association also submitted their demand to Sadar DM, SDM, and Deputy Commissioner.