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From The Times
December 6, 2006

Rickshaw pullers reach end of 'inhuman' road

CALCUTTA Rickshaw pullers, like this man, could soon be out of work after the Indian city of Calcutta banned the trade as inhuman.

The vote was boycotted by the Opposition, but Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, told the state legislature: “In the 21st century it is not right for a human being to pull another human being.

“When I go to Delhi, Bombay, or abroad, I am asked how long Calcutta will have hand-pulled rickshaws. This is inhuman.”

Calcutta is one of the few places in the world where the hand-pulled rickshaw, brought to the city by Chinese traders in the 19th century, is still used. China banned them when the Communists took over in 1949. Rickshaws will be used until a compensation plan is negotiated for the city’s 387 licensed pullers.

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