Bangalore can become a city of accommodative auto drivers. Look who’s making ‘peace’ with them!

When I moved from Mumbai to Bangalore, apart from the delicious street food, my closest friends and the spirit of the city, one thing I dearly missed and continue to miss is….accommodative auto drivers.

Travelling within the city of Bangalore without having a tiff with an auto driver is almost next to impossible. Be it their ‘Rs. 20 extra’ rant or their over-priced flat fare for long distances, some of these rickshaw waalas can really be intolerable.

I’ve often wondered, why can’t these auto drivers just take us on a peaceful ride or is there more to this excruciating pain than what meets the eye?

While thousands crib or ponder, someone is silently making a difference and slowly working to relieve Bangaloreans’ woes in this regard.

It’s time to make way for ‘Peace Auto’.

Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala, who kickstarted “The World Peacekeepers Movement” in collaboration with the United Nations, joined forces with young author and philanthropist Anil Shetty to launch a campaign called Peace Auto that aims to improve the relationship between passengers and auto drivers.

With the phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World Is A Family) as its motto, Peace Auto aims to not only provide passengers with a hassle-free journey, but also make life better for the community of auto drivers in the city.

Folomojo spoke to Anil Shetty to understand how Peace Auto functions. Here’s their story:

Where it all began

Like some of us, Anil moved to Bangalore in 2012. What caught his attention instantly was the number of negative comments the city auto drivers received for their services. However, Anil could not accept the fact that the entire community of auto drivers was getting lammed due to the few who actually add to passenger problems.

So instead of cribbing along with other commuters, Anil decided to make a difference. “The auto driver community is an unorganised sector. The unions too are politically driven and hardly work towards the betterment of the drivers. I felt that it was time to do something for both the auto drivers and the commuters of the city. I believe that it is important to punish the bad and reward the good, only then you can bring a change,” says Anil.

On October 2, 2013, along with 7 auto drivers Anil took a pledge to support the community of auto drivers and provide a better life for them, while they, in turn, would make commuting more peaceful for Bangalore residents. Today, there are around 400 Peace Autos in the city and the number is only increasing.

What’s in it for the passengers

Peace Auto aims to give its passengers an enhanced travel experience with its bandwagon of friendly and law abiding auto drivers. Now, doesn’t that sound like a breather for most commuters in the city?

According to the Peace Auto website, Anil and his crew aim to achieve the following goals:

What’s in it for the auto drivers

Peace Auto’s primary focus is on building a massive support system for auto drivers in the city. The organization seeks to identify the various problems drivers face both on and off the road and to assist them in resolving  these issues.

Here’s a look at some of the major problems auto drivers face:

Peace Auto also awards and applauds the efforts of those auto drivers who set a good example for the community. “We have the Peace Auto Award where we felicitate those drivers who put their best foot forward. These awards are mostly based on customer feedback. We also celebrate Autorickshaw Day on November 9 and on that day, we recognise the spirit of the community,” says Anil.

Anil and his people also undertake several social initiatives like blood donation camps for drivers, free eye check ups, and interest free loans for those who want to buy their own autos. “We are a family. We try and help all those in need. We’ve had cases where an auto driver needs money for medical treatment and the entire community comes together and provides him with all possible assistance. Auto drivers have a life of their own and they deserve help and support too.”

How one can join Peace Auto

Auto drivers mostly join the Peace Auto community through references. However, if any auto driver is interested in joining the community directly, he can visit the office in Koramangala.

“We believe in making leaders too. There are a few drivers who’ve gone to become auto managers and shoulder the responsibility of managing a bunch of other drivers. We are a non-profit organisation. Our dream is to make Bengaluru the most peaceful, prosperous and beautiful city,” says Anil.

Future plans

Building the community and making lives peaceful for both auto drivers and passengers remains the core aim of Peace Auto.  The organization wants to take this mission forward in the years to come. However, Anil is very clear that this effort is going to be restricted to Bangalore because he and his people currently do not have the bandwidth to take their effort to other cities. Having said that, Anil is more than willing to share the Peace Auto model with people from other cities.

Chennai, are you reading?

P.S.  Readers wishing to assist an auto driver join the Peace Auto community should provide him with the following contact: Raghu – 09964371460.