Hand-Pulled Rickshaws Vanish in Murshidabad Amidst Toto Dominance; A Fading Heritage

• Traditional hand-pulled rickshaws are rapidly disappearing in West Bengal, especially Murshidabad, due to the rise of battery-operated Totos and e-rickshaws.
• Once a common sight, their numbers in Murshidabad have plummeted from 60-70 to just 4-5, with daily earnings dropping significantly from over 500 to under 100-300 rupees.
• The faster pace of modern life and preference for quick transport has shifted demand towards e-rickshaws, leaving hand-pulled rickshaws with minimal fares.
• Many drivers, often elderly, continue operating these physically demanding rickshaws to uphold tradition, despite the loss of prestige and low income.
• Once a symbol of aristocracy, the hand-pulled rickshaw is now on the verge of extinction, struggling to survive amidst technological advancement and changing public perception.

Why It Matters: Murshidabad's hand-pulled rickshaws face extinction, losing heritage to modern e-rickshaws and low income.