IMPHAL, Sep 6: The 17th Presentation Ceremony for honoring late Md Jamal and late L Doren, both rickshaw pullers by profession, was organized by the All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Pullers Welfare Association at the GM Hall in Imphal today.
The MLA of Patsoi A/c Sapam Kunjekishore was the chief guest of the function, while the president of the association Leihaothabam Subhas Sharma was the president of the function. The guest of honor was AMWJU general secretary Naoribam Phillips.
Today’s keynote address was given by AK Kom, the general secretary of the association. Rickshaws are a common part of the life in the state and the rickshaw pullers have been working hard since 1951, he said.
In 2008 the MOBC gave away around 200 rickshaws and since then no help has been forthcoming to the rickshaw pullers, he also said. There are around 30,000 rickshaw pullers in the state today and they are contributing immensely to the economy of the state, he added.
The chief guest Kunjekishor in his speech said that the government would start taking interest in the problems of the rickshaw pullers while giving his advice that the rickshaw pullers should work with a clean mind.
The families of the two deceased rickshaw pullers were given cash gifts from the side of the association.