Several rickshaw drivers in India give disabled people free access to transportation

From the Times of India:

PUNE, India -- Rickshaw driver Kisan Mali, who earned reputation of an angel in disguise' for ferrying disabled people free of cost, has been joined by two of his fellowmen in the noble task. Mali, who has been giving this free service for over a year now, says it's heartening to know that more people are ready to share his responsibilities.

A resident of Wadgaon-Dhayari, Mali is an angel in disguise' for his passengers. For physically-disabled Abhay Pawar, Mali is a reason to believe in humanity.

"When everyone is running after money, he is one person who is least bothered about it," says Pawar.

Fifty one-year-old Mali, about whom TOI had written in July last year, has now been joined by two other autorickshaw drivers, Sahebrao Shinde and Namdeo Padharkar.

"Though they do not work full time ferrying the disabled, the rest of the time they transport the underprivileged and physically-challenged school children at a nominal price," said Mali. Sonali Sarpotdar, a pre-school teacher, is all praise for Mali. "He is doing a great job. He takes special care of children's safety."

Shinde and Padharkar read about Mali in the newspaper and approached him.

"I was extremely happy when they came to me as that meant more hands to help. I explained the job and the hardships involved. For now, they work part time," says Mali.

Shinde says he was assured by Mali that they would not have to pay for it from their pockets. And if at all that happens, he (Mali) would compensate them.

"But the work is such that it guarantees satisfaction and makes you feel good about yourself," says Shinde, who along with Padharkar, ferry passengers when Mali is unavailable. However, all of them are wary of the traffic police.

Mali said he was fined a few times for stopping on the road side to allow the disabled get down safely or buy some necessities from the shop.

"At times, the person cannot even walk. So, I get out myself. That again means the rickshaw has to be stopped there for a few minutes even if it is a no-parking zone," says Mali, showing a fine receipt he was given recently while doing one such chore.

"We are not asking for any special favour, but just the permission to be able to stop for a few minutes for the convenience of the disabled passengers. We follow all traffic rules otherwise," adds Mali.

Manoj Patil, DCP (traffic), said though they could not be given any special permission, all they had to do was talk to the concerned traffic police and make him understand the situation.

"What they are doing is a great job and if they just tell the policemen about it, I'm sure they will get all the cooperation," he said.

For Sujata Pawar, who cannot walk, Mali is the one-stop solution,' as she calls. "Any problems that we have are solved by him. Even if we call him at midnight, he will come. That is the kind of commitment he has towards his work," she says.

Mali now plans to start an ashram for the physically and the visually-challenged as well as for the senior citizens.

"I have the required land and with some more support, we are sure to start work soon. We are also planning a trip of some physically-challenged people to Balaji temple," concludes Mali.