What India Wants?

This is the part 2 of my experience with rickshaws that overcharge. If you have not read the first part I would suggest you to please read it before reading this article.

Like most humans I do believe that we have to give a benefit of doubt, a second chance to another person, that is why in the part 1 of overcharging rickshaws I first dealt with them at a personal level and gave them an opportunity to accept that they made a mistake – to me it’s effect is longer, powerful and postively contagious than punishing someone for a crime. Unfortunately, you will come across many who will just not accept that they made a mistake and continue doing wrong unless stopped by force. In this article I share about one such rickshaw driver who just demanded that I pay up what he asked. Such people deserve nothing but punishment, but is our system (including me) geared to it? Let’s find out …

The ‘pay up what the meter says’ rickshaw driver

It was sometime back in July-Aug 2008. I reached my office by hiring an autorickshaw. Since I been travelling the same route for quite some time now,  I knew how much the fare would come to (Rupees 85-95) but when I saw the fare on this rickshaw meter it showed Rupees 115. Though sad that this happened it was no surprise as quite a few rickshaws have their meters tinkered. In fact I was ready for this and started with my usual “What is your name bhai (brother)” routine which usually worked … but not with this guy! Here is a short version of what happened.

Me “Does anyone else drive this vehicle?”

Driver “No … why?”

Me “Then are you aware that your meter is not working properly? I come here every day and the usual fare is Rupees 90. That is what I will pay you.”

Driver “The meter is fine, pay up what the meter says”

Of course, I was not going to pay him anything more than what I used to pay other drivers, so I continued explaining him that the meter could be faulty without his knowledge but he was simply adamant about paying full.

Finally I warned him that I will call the police. Like instant cafe came the reply “Go ahead call them!”

This was going to be my first complaint for an incidence like this so I had no idea who to call, nor did I have any numbers except one – the ever helpful Mumbai police 100. Following is what happened.

I dialled Mumbai police 100, after 8-10 rings I hear a language option, I proceed by choosing Marathi. A human male voice greets me. I reply in Marathi …

Me “Namaskar, I have a problem, this rickshaw driver is asking Rupees 115 for a ride which should normally cost me 85-95 rupees, I know this because I travel everyday the same route. What should I do?”

Control room “Was there traffic?”

Me “It was usual traffic, even in traffic it comes to 95 not more.”

Control room “Give the phone to the driver”

I hand the phone to the rickshaw driver, the cop asks him something, I suspect it was “Is your meter tampered?” because the driver with a slight grin on his face replied “Yes, you know how it is!”

After about 30 seconds he handed the phone to me.

Control room “Sir, you can pay what you see fit, if he causes any trouble call me back again. OK?”

Me “But sir don’t you need his licence number or his rickshaw number? He may continue cheating other customers?”

Control room “No, I have talked to him, he will not repeat it.”

Me puzzled ” … hmmm what’s your name? In case I have to call back who should I ask for?”

Control room “Anybody here will help you, just tell them you had called before.”

Me even more confused “… ok”

After the phone I paid the rickshaw driver 90 rupees – what the ride usually costs me and he took it without a word. 

After this incidence, a few friends said that I am the first person they knew who actually thought of going through all this for a routine thing like faulty meters. For a few days I felt good about it, but when I dug deep in to finding responsibility to change the situation, I felt ashamed and a bit dissapointed with myself.

Who is responsible?

This incidence raised a few questions to me.

• Why didn’t the control room record my details and the rickshawallas?
• Why didn’t they book him for an offence of cheating?

But the bigger question when I think of it now is who to blame for this situation? The driver for committing the crime? The control room (our system/processes) for handling the case ineffectively? Or me that I didn’t pursue the case myself?

I feel I, a citizen, is equally reponsible for this situation. I realised I could have done so much more than what I did. Not giving in to the driver’s demand is fine but that’s not the end of my duties … is it? It was my duty to ensure that he is punished. If the police initially dismissed taking his licence number I should have pursued it. By not pursuing it proactively, I automatically became a part of the crime that the autorickshaw driver was committing and by not persuading the control room to file a case against him I rendered myself ineffective to protect my own rights.

What India wants today is that we raise our awareness about our rights, and DO what is necessary when challenged by situations that threaten it. Merely talking about what needs to change and then not doing our part is meaningless. Not voting and blaming others for not choosing a proper government is meaningless.

These numbers will hellp you if you are in Thane, Maharashtra

• For complaints related with autorickshaws: +912225424936 and +912225401056. If you have already used these numbers then please share your experience with other visitors for their benefit.
• There are 2 more numbers setup to register complaints like illegal parking, traffic jams, note that these numbers are SMS ONLY for Thane area, Maharashtra: +919594116116 and +919594115115.