From the Director General of Police, political leaders of both the ruling party and the Opposition, media persons to even those arrested in different cases, all are dependent on ‘totos’ or e-rickshaw, which is the only mode of passenger transport in the region.
“I am so proud that DGP Sir (West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar), Suvendu Adhikari (BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition) and Sukanta Majumdar (BJP state president) rode in my toto. I was so happy while taking them to their destinations in my toto. I felt important,” said Pulak Das (23), a toto driver in Sandeshkhali.
Though a graduate, Das has been driving a toto for the past one-and-a-half years as he never got a job after college. A resident of the island, Das’ father owns a hardware shop.
“I did not get a job after graduation, so I became a toto driver but I never imagined that I would ever have so many famous people as passengers,” added Das.
Despite the upheaval in Sandeshkhali, Das’ earnings have shot up in the past few weeks. “Earlier, on a good day, I used to earn Rs 300 to Rs 400. After the recent protests and with people visiting Sandeshkhali from everywhere, my income has risen to Rs 700- 800 per day. Most of these people book my toto for the entire day. However, I wish peace returns soon. I live here and understand the pain of the people,” he said.
According to Das, there are around 130 such e–rickshaws plying in Sandeshkhali. Each e-rickshaw costs around Rs 1.4 lakh, he said. Even police stations and Block Development Offices depend on totos to take their officials around. “Not only in Sandeshkhali island, wherever you go in Sundarbans where there are no ‘Roll on Roll off’ service to transport four-wheelers including cars from the mainland to an island or from between islands, totos are the main mode of transport. They are the only transport options apart from personal motorcycles,” said the BDO of Sandeshkhali-II block Arun Kumar Samanta. “Presently, there is so much demand for e- rickshaws. We are facing difficulty in getting vehicles for inspection duty. After our request, the state government has sanctioned money for purchase of three or four e- rickshaws for administrative use.”
There are no ambulances on the island, nor private cars. Be it rushing to your office, college or hospital, a toto is your best bet in Sandeshkhali. These toto drivers also double up as guides for these VIP visitors. “Sandeshkhali is a big island. We know every house. So, we often guide those who are coming here from outside ever since the violence started,” said Shankar Maity (56) at Sandeshkhali ferryghat.
The Sandeshkhali island, under Sandeshkhali block 2 in North 24 Parganas district, has been on an edge after protests broke out in February first week against local TMC leaders and their alleged involvement in land grab and sexual harassment cases.