Rickshaw Cycle Drivers in Dhaka : Assessing Working Conditions and Livelihoods

This paper deals with the rickshaw drivers in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They constitute a large part of the urban poor and consequently face challenges in terms of health, income, social fragmentation and crime. In addition, state and police intervention add to the vulnerability of the rickshaw drivers. In terms of livelihood, it is found that the human capital (labor, health etc.), social capital (family, patron etc.), physical/productive capital (rural land, urban shelter and rickshaw), and financial capital (income, savings etc.) are the key assets which the rickshaw drivers manage by and large. Perhaps surprisingly, this study reveals that the rickshaw drivers by carefully managing these capital assets and relationships, normally succeed in having an acceptable livelihoods.