Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday said that the state government will talk to the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University (DU) to make DU a vehicle-free zone. CM said it will give the university campus a noise and pollution-free atmosphere. Dikshit was speaking after handing over the aesthetically designed rickshaws to the pullers in a function organized by Sri Ram College of Commerce.

Dikshit said that despite providing cost-effective and non-polluting transport, the rickshaw pullers lead lives of low and uncertain incomes.

Out of the total 100, 35 rickshaws have been specially designed by the Fashion Design Council of India.  These include designer rickshaws by leading designers like Rohit Bal and Rajesh Pratap Singh.

These rickshaws have been provided by the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) SRCC under its project ‘Life on Wheels-let them own what they owe’. SIFE is an international organization that mobilizes university students to improve living conditions of marginalized communities while at the same time developing students’ skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

The SIFE would help to obtain loans from Punjab National Bank to buy their own specially customized rickshaws and ensure a smooth repayment process. It will also provide holistic development of the rickshaw pullers and their families through health check camps, children education plans, insurance schemes and other opportunities for income generation.