After watching a movie with one of my female friend at 6 PM, i decided to accompany her on her way home back. She stays near Rohini (west delhi) which was around 10-12 Kms from the movie theater. If we encounter a heavy traffic, it may take atleast one and a half hour to reach her home. We have approached a autowala and asked him whether he can come to rohini or not The autowala declined to come to rohini. My friend shouted at him for declining and asked him to come to rohini and told him that if he declines she will call the cops. The auto driver listened to us and demanded 250 Rupees. My friend was not at all convinced with his answer and she again shouted at him for not using the fare meter and finally the guy agreed to drop us at Rohini on meter fare only. The story does not end here. After dropping her, her parents had a short conversation with me and thanked me for dropping her at home. I left her home after half an hour. In my way back to the Hostel, I decided to take a DTC bus which passes through a bus stop located half a km away from her house. At the bus stop i found the same autowala sitting on the footpath with his auto parked on the roadside. he was quite disappointed and it is seen in his face. After 10 minutes, i asked him about what made him to be so sad. The autowala said I stay in Badarpur 35-40kms away from the place where we are standing right now. I drive the auto for 8-10 hours a day in which i can earn around 1200-1500. I have to pay the auto owner, Rs 500 everyday and among the remaining amount, i need to pay for the fuel and the rest will be my daily income. I hardly get 500 per day after a long day work. At the theater i decided to go back home by taking a passenger who is travelling in the direction of my home so that i can get closer to what i can earn per day. But today because of you and your friend, i travelled in the opposite direction and ending up in earning less. Also i have to pay for the fuel that is consumed in the 40Km journey back home. All you needed was to ensure that your girl reaches home safely but because of you a family will starve for a day. If i find someone going in the direction of my home, i can earn something or else who will feed me for the day ? His answer has a valid point ! Its time for us to think why Rs 500 is charged per day from the poor Autowalas in the name of rent? If this problem is not addressed, how can we improve women safety in our city #womensafetyVspoverty
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 16:12:02 +0000