By Purusottam Singh Thakur
Bullock carts on concrete roads may look unusual to metro-bred young generation. But what they have seen in numerous old Bollywood films are common sight on roads of Chhattisgarh.
When the bullock carts have been vanished from many parts of the country it is amazing to find those in large numbers bullock carts are major modes of transportation of goods in Dhamtari, Kurud, Mahasamund, Bagbahara, Rajim and some other places as well.
There are around 180 registered bullock carts in Dhamtari. According to the Bailgadi Union Parivahan Sangh, Dhamtari, earlier there were around 300 bullock carts but their number has come down rapidly.
"From childhood, I have seen rise of bullock cart business and its decline. It was ours’ family business," said 46-year-old Rajkumar Sahu, president of this union who has been in this profession for last 35 years.
Describing as to how business of the bullock cart as means of transportation was running, Rajkumar said, “I was just extending my helping hand to load and unload the paddy bags in the cart. At that time the price per bag was 30 paise and for a cart was five rupees 25 paise.”
“Earlier my father was solely depending on bullock cart for earning income for the family. When he retired, my elder brother took over. We have only half acres of land and this bullock cart. Now my brother no more comes, " added Rajkumar.
Dhamtari is a district headquarter town of Chhattishgarh where the bullock cart owners come everyday in the morning from the nearby villages situated in between two to ten kilometer of radius of Dhamtari.
Villages include Hatkesar, Sorid, Gokulpur, Thelawan, Jodhapur, Bhatina, Khapri, Arjuni, Danitola, Koliari, Rudri, Mujgahan, Kostapara, Jalampur, Amapara and Nawagaon.
Bullock cart owners get Rs.110 for each trip of paddy bag being transported to the mandi to mills and mills to mandi. Bullock cart commerce in this small town goes on like any other motor vehicle business. When they come to the union in morning, they first register their names and wait for their turn.
Twenty-five-year old Rosan Sahu is one of them. He belongs to Hatkesar village. Rosan inherits the profession from his father who has gone past 50 year of age.
“We don't have any land except a homestead land on which our house could be seen. Grand father was an agricultural labourer. But a time went past, he could succeed to have a bullock cart. For him and our family it was a great achievement,” he says narrating how owning a bullock cart was prized possession in those days. “It had cost around Rs. 400. But now its costs is around Rs. 50,000, Roshan says.
Giving details of budget required for a bullock cart, he says a pair of bullock costs Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 whereas a cart costs 10,000 to 15,000 rupees.
But over the years, many innovations have gone into making of a cart. Instead of old wooden and iron wheel, second hand truck tyres are used. Other parts of the wheen such as bearing channel and iron angle would cost around Rs. 8000.
Daily life of operators of bullock cart is bit different from others. Take the example of Roshan. He start starts his day early in the morning. His breakfast box include water rice made in the previous night and chatni (made of tomato, chilly and salt) and he preserves the freshly cooked rice in the box for lunch. By the time clock ticks 10 am, Roshan could be found in Dhamtari.
The booming business has now reduced to life-saving profession for a few. "Now there is scarcity of works. Yesterday I could lay my hands on one order and it fetched me Rs. 110. Someday we get two trips. But such days does not come everyday. Last week I earned Rs. 500," says Roshan. The account of the bullock cart operator gives an impression that the monthly income of an individual does not go beyond Rs. 4000.
A major portion of the income is spent on the bullocks’ fodder. “Bullocks are like family members. They get the equal share of income as we enjoy,” says Satish kumar Sahu, another bullock cart man.
Rise in prices of essential commodities during past two years has, however, made their life miserable. Prices of fodder for the bullocks has increased and so as the prices of dal. However, the income of bullock cart operators has not increased accordingly, which has forced many people to leave this profession.
“Many of us have sold their bullock carts from Rs.12000 to Rs.20,000. Now out of 180 some 150 have remained. About 30 members have sold the bullock carts in last one and half year,” Satish says.
Life turns upside down after the sale of bullock carts. The men become daily wage earner as " hamal ' or " coolie " in the city
The price of the rent of bullock cart is fixed. “If one demands more money, he would be denied work which is worse than getting low amount," says Rajkumar. The rent is fixed by the rice millers association. There was an old agreement between vyapari ( businessmen millers ) and the bullock cart men.
The agreement is heavily tilted in favour of rice millers. It is agreed upon that businessmen will raise the price of Rs. 4.00 in each deepawali.
But this hike of Rs.4.00 is nothing in comparison to price hike in case of other commodities. “But we have no other choice, but to cling to the profession. Many of us live below poverty line,” 34-year-old Satish Kumar Sahu, who has been this profession for last 15 years.
Despite operating the most environment friendly mode of transportation, these people are leading a miserable life. The State government should come forward either to ensure respectable wage for these people or help them shift to other profession smoothly.
(EOM)
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