Dubai: Cycle rickshaws, a common sight in India and other South Asian countries, are non-existent in the UAE, but you can enjoy a rickshaw ride right here in Dubai if you visit the Global Village.
Year after year men from poor families in India’s capital New Delhi and neighbouring states have been coming to the Global Village to work as rickshaw pullers. Today they are one of the main attractions at the annual fair and are doing brisk business.
Rickshaw-puller Kamal Kumar, 30, earned Rs100,000 (around Dh5,882) last year. In India it would take him more than a year to earn that kind of money.
“I made a small fortune last year and hope to be as lucky this year too. Back home I barely earn Dh350 a month,” Kumar told XPRESS.
Kamal has been coming to Dubai to work at the Global Village since 2006. The youngest of seven siblings and a father of two, he says he has several financial responsibilities towards his family.
“All that I earn goes into helping my family. Last year my son was born on the last day of the Global Village. When I returned home I threw a big party for all my relatives. I also used some money to refurbish my house. This time I want to help my ageing parents,” he said.
This year there are 40 rickshaw pullers at the Global Village. Some of them belong to one of India’s biggest clan of potters living in the famous Prajapati Colony in New Delhi’s Uttam Nagar.
“We all go by the surname Kumar. More than 400 potters from this colony alone supply pottery items to various shops in Delhi. This is my first time in Dubai and I have come here because people told me how good it was to work in the Global Village,” said Ashok Kumar, 37.
“It’s hard work pulling rickshaws, but we don’t mind. We are doing a public service and in return poor people like us earn a living from it,” he said.
A South Korean family-of-three asks Ashok for a ride. He calls his friend Mahesh Kumar to help him out as a rickshaw can only seat two people.
A rickshaw ride costs Dh5 for a trip taken from any of the parking lots to the closest gate entrance. Rides taken from the over-flow parking area to the entrance gate cost Dh10. There are no rickshaw rides inside the Global Village.
Joy ride
“It has been a long time since I sat in a cycle rickshaw. This is fun. I don’t mind paying for the ride as I know the money is going to some needy people,” said Yoon Hee Choi who was riding with her parents Chong hack and Sung Jin hong.
Ashok said all the rickshaw pullers have been sponsored by the Global Village and their expenses have been borne by Indian pavilion owner Sunil Bhatia. “He has funded our visa and ticket costs, given us free food and accommodation in International City and Al Quoz. We are also provided free transportation to and from the Global Village. Sunil ‘sir’ is very kind and knows how to take care of his people. He has given us a great opportunity and I cannot dream of having a life like this in India,” said Mahesh Kumar, 37.
He said the Global Village has a due process in place while selecting people for the job. “A month before the Global Village begins we are given a detailed brief about the rules and regulations in Dubai and how we must conduct ourselves in a new city.”
He added they don’t get any days off. “We only get a break when the Global Village ends. But we are not complaining. We are here to earn money and not enjoy week-end offs.”
