No Brakes In This Puri Trolley-Rickshaw Puller’s Life Despite Lockdown

Puri: For Abhimanyu Behera (50), a trolley-rickshaw puller of Puri, life goes on as usual even during the lockdown.

“My bread and butter is my trolley rickshaw. Earlier, I had a rickshaw. But as the number of auto-rickshaws and town buses went up, my daily earning came down drastically. So, I redesigned my rickshaw into a trolley-rickshaw. I am happy with whatever I earn from it. My daily earning ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 300,” Behera said with a smile.

Narrating his lifestyle during the lockdown, Behera said as the hotels and roadside tiffin stalls are closed, he thrives on dry food. “At times I eat chuda (pounded rice) and banana or chhatua. Sometimes, people offer me rice and dalma.” Behera said he has no family.

“I belong to Polasara in Ganjam district and have been staying in Puri for the last 30 years. I had married thrice. But all three wives left me one after the other. I have no regrets,” he said.

About his present dwelling, Abhimanyu said he was staying on rent at different locations in the city. But due to the rude behaviour of the house owners, he decided to make this trolley-rickshaw his home. I have designed the roof with cardboards and polythene to save me from the sun and rain. I take my afternoon nap and sleep inside my trolley-rickshaw at night,” he said.