Pune Auto Rickshaw Drivers will Store Books in their Cabs in the Intention of Weaning Children Away from Phones

Embark on a literary adventure in Pune autorickshaws! Encouraging reading for all ages, break free from screens, and embrace books on the go!

on Dec 18, 2023

Pune Auto Rickshaw Drivers will Store Books in their Cabs in the Intention of Weaning Children Away from Phones | Frontlist

According to one driver, the ad will also serve to dispel unfavourable stereotypes about auto rickshaw drivers.

Even as the National Book Trust's Pune Book Festival began on Saturday, the city's autorickshaw drivers initiated a push to encourage their passengers, particularly children, to read books instead of looking at their phones.

Several auto rickshaw drivers stated that they would store books and booklets for both children and elderly passengers in their vehicles.

For the past year, Soni Shendge, head of the Women's Autorickshaw Union, has driven such an autorickshaw.

She claimed to have books in her autorickshaw that give a quick outline of the lives of Chhatrapati Shivaji and BR Ambedkar.She went on to say, "I educate children about Ambedkar's struggles for water and the challenges he encountered in his life." She also said that the internet was diverting people's attention away from literature and "the real world," particularly youngsters.

"They will become more educated as they read more." "Am I correct?" Shendge inquired of a child riding in the rear of her autorickshaw with his mother.
Shendge has books in both English and Marathi. Her husband has also joined the campaign and runs an autorickshaw.

Pramod Naiknaware, a Vishrantwadi autorickshaw driver, stated that he used to offer books and newspapers to his older passengers. However, few people were intrigued. "I was aware that senior citizens read newspapers more than any other age group." As a result, I began saving newspapers for them, but they, too, eventually stopped reading them. "As a result, I stopped offering," he continued.

He has decided, however, to keep books and newspapers in his autorickshaw.

Naiknaware stated that due to financial constraints, his only alternative for a living was to operate an autorickshaw. But he does not want his boys to follow in his footsteps. "I have two sons in school right now."

Bandal stated that autorickshaw drivers would exchange books kept in their vehicles as part of the initiative. "It is a temporary idea that came up in our minds, but I am committed to continuing this campaign for a long time," he said.