Impacts of the Occupational Shift from Cycle Rickshaw Pulling to E-Rickshaw Driving in Siliguri Municipal Corporation, West Bengal, India

This study analyses the socio-economic impacts of occupational shifts from cycle rickshaw pulling to e-rickshaw driving on the socio-economic conditions of individuals in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area. Siliguri has long attracted migrants who, due to limited formal employment opportunities, engaged in various informal occupations, including cycle rickshaw pulling. However, the emergence of e-rickshaws in the city since 2013 has resultedin many individuals changing their occupation from cycle rickshaw pulling to e-rickshaw driving because of the higher income-generating potential and improved social recognition. This study aims to assess the changes in their livelihood conditions resulting from this occupational shift, focusing on income levels, savings patterns, debt, and access to household amenities based on the primary data collected from 47 such individuals who transitioned to e-rickshaw driving. The findings reveal that the shift to e-rickshaw driving has generally led to improved socio-economic conditions, particularly in income levels.