82 Getting Around Lesson D 83

Goal 4 Make recommendations for improving transportation

Tell the class about your recommendations

Communication

Writing

D GOAL 4 MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION

Reading

The Rickshaws of Kolkata

Word Focus

migrant = person who moves regularly for workpoverty = the condition of being poorat a stretch = at one time without stoppingauthorities = people in important positionscongestion = the condition of being crowdedcrawl = move along very slowly

C Who would say this More than one answer may be correct

A Discuss the questions with a partner

1 What kinds of transportation did your city have 50 years ago

2 Are those kinds of transportation still used today Why or why not

Hand-pulled rickshaws first appeared in Kolkata India a century ago and about 6000 of them still roll through the streets today Most men who pull them are poor aging migrants from the countryside Their vehicles are not being made any more and as the parts wear out they cannot be replaced Thus the rickshaw is nearing its end in Kolkata

Rickshaws are an important form of transportation in this city of nearly 15 million people They are cheap and convenient Poor and middle-class residents rely on rickshaws to move through narrow lanes in areas of the central city not served by public transportation Families often pay a rickshaw to take their children to and from school

Rickshaws also provide delivery service for hotels shops and homes around the city carting everything from food for 500 wedding guests to live chickens Ladies on shopping trips depend on rickshaws to wait while they make several stops before returning home Some people even use a rickshaw instead of an ambulance

But rickshaw pullers live in extreme poverty Most of them are homeless Some sleep in a dera a rickshaw garage others simply live in their rickshaws or on the street They work for more than 12 hours at a stretch earning about 100 rupees ($250) a day Their top priority is paying the rent on their vehicles then buying food and shelter They also have to bribe the city police who enforce rickshaw laws Any extra money goes to their families back home

For the last 10 years the government has been trying to get rid of the rickshaws City authorities say they want to modernize Kolkatarsquos image They also want to reduce traffic

congestion ldquoWe must be fair to the cars and buses that are crawling because of the rickshawsrdquo one city official said

What will the rickshaw pullers do for work in the future Most are 40 to 60 years old and have no job skills Local authorities have talked about programs to retrain the pullers They could drive auto-rickshaws work in parking lots or make traditional crafts However nothing has been done to start these programs and rickshaw pullers are understandably very worried about their future ldquoIrsquoll try anything even learning a new job if it will help my familyrdquo one puller said

B Circle T for true and F for false Correct the false statements

1 Rickshaws are a traditional form of transportation in Kolkata T F

2 The men who pull the rickshaws earn a lot of money T F

3 Rickshaws can be used in parts of the city where buses canrsquot drive T F

4 Rickshaws are mostly used by wealthy people T F

5 Rickshaws are a problem in heavy traffic T F

6 The government is trying to increase the number of rickshaws T F

7 There are programs now to help the rickshaw pullers get new jobs T F

A rick-shaw puller

A wealthy man

A poor woman

A city official

1 Rickshaws are useful transportation for ordinary people

2 A car is much better than a rickshaw

3 Many people will lose their jobs if there are no rickshaws

4 Rickshaws are good for Kolkata because they are cheap

5 Rickshaw pullers need to get new jobs

6 A modern city needs faster transportation

What should the city of Kolkata do about the rickshaw problem Make a list of recommendations for its city government

How would you improve the transportation system in your city Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper explaining your ideas Begin your letter ldquoDear Editorrdquo End it with ldquoSincerelyrdquo and sign your name

Kolkata India

2009

17142442

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