'My dad drank homemade liquor... he fell sick... then the doctor said his liver was damaged... he bled out one day and died.' Fifteen-year-old Sonu narrated his family tragedy in one breath, without a hint of emotion. Though appearing barely eleven, Sonu drives an e-rickshaw. I was taken aback to learn his age. His tall stature, thin limbs, and sunken stomach bore no signs of childhood; rather, his eyes held a premature maturity.
When did you start driving an e-rickshaw?
After my dad passed away, seeing the condition at home, I told my mother that I would drive the rickshaw. The first time I told her, she said nothing. She simply advised, 'Son, drive carefully,' when I was leaving the house.
Sonu's family consists of four members... his mother, elder brother, and a younger sister. His brother, three years his senior, also drives a rented e-rickshaw while the younger sister attends school. Sonu ferries five passengers daily to Nirman Vihar Metro Station from nearby areas. Curiously, I hopped onto his rickshaw for a chat.
If your brother drives a rickshaw, why did you start at such a young age?
'Our father left debts everywhere. He passed away, and people came to us seeking money... My brother's earnings couldn't even cover household expenses. There's also my sister's education...'
Which school does your sister attend?
She attends a government school, but paper and pen still cost money.
How far did you study?
Up to seventh grade.
Do you miss going to school?
Yes... but just then, Sonu spotted a passenger and yelled out its destination, leaving my question hanging... 'Nirman Vihar... Nirman Vihar.' Seeing no hopeful response from the passenger, he turned to me and said, 'I really want to but then I remember the family issues. All my friends go to school... Naturally, I want to study and play with them.
When did you leave school?
When dad died, I left school and have been driving for three years now.
Who taught you to drive?
Some friends who were already driving taught me. I learned by asking questions.
What are your friends' ages?
I don't know, some are like me, some are older.
Whose e-rickshaw is this?
It's the owner's.
Can you introduce me to the owner or provide their contact?
He isn't around much... always outside. No, because I don't own a phone to store any contacts.
How much do you earn in a day?
Sometimes it's 700, sometimes it reaches 800.
If something breaks on the rickshaw, do you get help from the owner?
No, why would he help? We have to fix everything ourselves with our own money.
Sonu seemed more comfortable talking to me now, so I probed, 'Sonu, do you know it's illegal to drive under the age of 18? It's against the law.'
The wheel of a rickshaw in a minor's hands, the police turn a blind eye.
Do traffic police ever stop you?
Why would they stop us... they talk to the owner, not us. Nobody stops us. Everything is managed... Sonu said, as if flouting traffic rules, 'Everything is managed.'
He lowered his voice and whispered gravely, 'They just take money... the police officers. They collect a thousand rupees from each vehicle. We have to pay them every month.'
As Sonu continued, he noticed two friends approaching in an e-rickshaw. He shouted their names, and I switched to their rickshaw as Sonu dropped me off.
Source: aajtak
What are your names?
One said Akash, the other Pawan. When the frail-looking Akash claimed his age was 14, I couldn't help asking, 'You don't look 14... do you not eat properly?'
I eat outside... food is made at home, but I don't like it. Since I'm out all day, I eat outside.
Akash's breath smelled of chewing tobacco and pan masala, staining his teeth a faint red. His family consists of his parents, two younger siblings, and Akash himself, helping to pay off debts by driving an e-rickshaw.
How do you live here?
We rent a place.
Have you studied?
Yes, up to eighth grade.
What did your mother say when you told her you wanted to drive an e-rickshaw?
She tried to stop me, saying the police would seize the vehicle and we'd have hefty expenses reclaiming it. I assured her, 'Nothing will happen, mom... there are problems at home, let me drive.'
Do your siblings study?
Yes.
Don't you feel like going to school when you see them?
I used to go to school, but a fight broke out there... the teacher expelled me. I got into a fight with two boys and hit one on the head.
Whose e-rickshaw is this... rented?
No, it's ours... bought for 230,000. We pay 10,000 every month in installments.
How much do you earn monthly?
We're able to earn 800-1000 each day.
When you first drove, weren't you scared?
Yes, I was. But seeing my friends driving took away my fear. Now, there's no fear at all.
Have passengers ever refused to ride because of your age?
Yes... some say, 'You're so young, how can you drive an e-rickshaw?' We explain it's all about 'entry' money to the police. We pay it everywhere.
What's 'entry' money?
Every month, we pay the police to drive on the Nirman Vihar and Preet Vihar routes. 800 for Nirman Vihar and 500 for Preet Vihar.
Akash told me most e-rickshaws on these routes, about 150, are owned by a person nicknamed 'Mama'. 'Mama' rents out rickshaws to kids like him. I tried reaching out to 'Mama,' but there was no contact available.
No father figure, poverty burdens children with rickshaw duty
Pawan said his rickshaw is somewhere else. Since it's Sunday, he took a break and parked his rickshaw for a few hours. He also took an e-rickshaw on installment, with 60 installments of 10,000 each due. Pawan is 13 years old.
In talking with under-18 rickshaw drivers in Nirman Vihar and Preet Vihar, a common thread emerged: most lacked a father figure.
Pawan's father had died too. He explained, 'Dad passed away when I was little. Then mom and my elder brother took care of our family. Mom works as a maid. My brother, who once worked in Gandhinagar, now paints houses. I have a younger brother... who studies.'
How much education do you have?
I never went to school... Dad passed away early, and even managing one meal was a struggle on my brother's earnings. Mom often skipped meals to feed us. She did housework and brought leftovers from work for us.
After a pause, he continued, 'I used to want to attend school, see what it looked like inside... My friends would tell stories of teachers and lessons. I longed for that too... but now, that's dead. Now, it's just about the family and its struggles. The only thought is how to earn a little more, regardless of how long I have to drive.'
Do you have all the documents for the e-rickshaw?
Yes, everything's there.
You don't have a driving license?
No... I'll get one when I'm 18. Police do catch us sometimes, but they just want money. They take our money and let us go.
Similarly, Pawan also accused the police of charging him 800 rupees monthly for Nirman Vihar, though he doesn't pay for Preet Vihar routes as he doesn't drive there.
Source: aajtak
What do officials say about minors driving e-rickshaws?
Regarding minors driving e-rickshaws and allegations of entry money, an interview was conducted with ACP Traffic, East Delhi Khushal Singh. He clearly denied knowing of minors driving e-rickshaws.
When questioned about officers accepting bribes and letting minors drive, he said, 'Anyone can make such accusations. There's no truth to their claims. Their accusations are baseless.'
Mayur Vihar's traffic inspector said that when 'these people' face action, they make baseless accusations. 'These e-rickshaws' aren't registered, and as the police act on them, they allege extortion for fines,' he explained.
Government cracks down on unregistered e-rickshaws
Delhi houses approximately 1.2 lakh registered e-rickshaws, yet the actual figure is twice as high. Authorities explain unregistered e-rickshaws lack license plates, enabling traffic rule violations, congestion, and evading fines.
This August, under the chairmanship of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, a high-level meeting was held to address this. The Transport Department was ordered to seize unregistered e-rickshaws, giving 90 days for registration, and instructed that unregistered e-rickshaws be crushed within seven days of non-registration.
Source: aajtak
However, neither Sonu nor Akash, nor Pawan was aware of these measures. I asked Sonu what he would do if his vehicle were ever seized.
He pondered and then said, 'We're paying them regularly, so why would they seize it? If they do, we'll figure something out.'
But if money doesn't work...
'Then it's our fate... we'll starve, what else... 60 installments still pending, God only knows. But as long as we're working, we'll manage,' he concluded with a shrug.
