No-Refusal Taxi Drivers as a Subaltern Resource Group in Kolkata City, India: An Empirical Case Study

Abstract

In Kolkata, taxi is considered to be four wheelers vehicle and it is one of the best ways of transport vehicle by which passengers are usually selected this mode of transport for covering the taxi cab distance within a stipulated time. Almost 3 years date backs, there was no no-refusal taxi for the beneficiaries of the passengers in Kolkata city. Now, there are two type of taxis which are most commonly observed which means refusal and no-refusal taxi. Refusal taxis are mostly refused the passengers during peak hours when the passengers are usually required these yellow cab taxis for reaching to their destinations. However No-refusal taxi drivers usually could not be able torefuseany passenger because of stringent governmental rules and notified regulations. While it has been observed among simplified taxi drivers, they are frequently refused the passengers for some obvious reason such as lunch or dinnertime, small distance as well as traffic congestion etc. In that case these refused passengers wish to complain report to the police against these taxi drivers because West Bengal Traffic Police has already notified some rules against of these refusal. In addition to that incident, police could punish them by claiming money or notified fine as well as taking some confidential bribe. In order to removing the problem of refusal , Transport Department, Government of West Bengal has initiated and implemented new No-refusal taxi during last two years date back. Therefore, these taxi drivers are also deprived by Kolkata Traffic Police incorporating by lower down meter, high amount of penalty, unconditional governmental rules as well as more hike penalty than the specified fine in the governmental rules. In this condition, the taxi drivers don’t even have any recovery suggestion or solution. As a subaltern resource, the taxi drivers are also deprived by the administration system, government as well as by the passengers. Therefore in this research paper, several objectives have been incorporated to identify the group of people who are engaged in this profession followed by making an assessment on taxi drivers and their problems and to know, whether they are deprived or not and what are the reasons behind that. Therefore an empirical case study has been done on the passengers as well as drivers to know the key problem of this dichotomy of refusal as well as no-refusal problem regarding taxis in Kolkata. On the other hand, several articles, secondary data, as well as few questionnaires are being solved by the taxi drivers of Kolkata which has been shaped this research paper more empirical. Several cartograms have been done based on those primary survey data and secondary data as well as several photographs have been snapped out by the author to make this research paper more scientific. Finally, In this research paper an attempt has been made to point out the problems as well as find out some solutions of these economically deprived as well as socially deprived group of people means these taxi drivers in Kolkata city.