Taxi Wala (cabbies)

Last month I had an opportunity to travel in Kolkata. I always like to interact with cab drivers or bus conductors or hawkers in new city. I find these discussions as informative as reading voluminous books or research papers on any city. I feel that, one can surely get the crux about cultural and social traits (& also economic environment) with such small discussions.  

While my journey from Air-port, I had a good deal of time. I was chatting with this slightly reluctant taxi guy. He was pissed off, because I had taken a prepaid coupon at air port and according to him, the rate charged by traffic control authority is quite less. Looking at his demeanor I could surely say that, due to such price restriction he was earning substantially less. (Here I would like to mention, when initially I tried to hire a taxi directly out of air port, the fare told to me was twice than what I paid in prepaid system). Anyways, as usual he was not happy with his condition. So I spent some time listening to him cursing his profession.

When things cool off, I could ask him some questions. Since, I was involved in some work related to taxi drivers in Mumabi. I asked him, “Dada dinka bachat kitna hota hain?” (What are your daily savings?) He said, “around Rs. 250”. I was shouting in my head “Bingo”. As his answer exactly matched with my experience in Mumbai. I along with few of my pals were involved in a survey regarding incomes of taxi drivers. Even in Mumbai on an average a cab drivers makes 250bucks a day. Now this is really insufficient for someone to survive in metropolis. In another interaction I found a higher saving. Again the reason was, the driver was owner of his cab. Again range of income in this category is same as drivers in Mumbai (again "bingo").

It was surprising to see analogs earnings and working conditions in two cities. A pyramid structure is prominent. If you are at the top of hierarchy (owner), you earn enough else you are in penury. Further, lower you are in pyramid lower are opportunities to grow. Alas, all these are prominent features of informal sector workers.