Contextualizing Identity and Exclusion and the Unheard Voices of Kolkata’s Migrant Hand-rickshaw-pullers

Abstract

The intrigues of global capital are certain to drive out thousands of atrociously marginalized Dalit and Muslim hand-rickshaw-pullers from their livelihood in Kolkata (previously Calcutta) on the ground that not only are hand-rickshaws outdated, but their plying on the city-roads is an indication of retrogression as well as antithetical to development while global capital needs fast-paced smart-cities, supportive to unhindered capitalist development. In line with such exclusionary course of action, the State intends to rule out their continuance which would evict those marginal people from their livelihood. But this is utterly in contrast with the policy of inclusive growth. The plan is likely to play havoc with their livelihood since most of the pullers, belonging to the Hindi-and Urdu-speaking Dalit and Muslim groups are unskilled and old-aged. How would they survive when the government imposes overall ban on the hand-rickshaws, only to be replaced by motorized vehicles. Amidst the controversies, the vulnerable rickshaw-pullers meekly raise their voice of protest. But their voice fails to reach the portals of power.