A Three Wheeled Revolution

     A THREE WHEELED REVOLUTION

Read And Respond

1. Which incident shows that Irfan had a problem solving skill?

           Once Irfan was travelling in a rickshaw and in the middle of the journey he was very thirsty. He asked the rickshaw puller if he had any water. He said he did not have because it was expensive to get bottles of water and stack them. Immediately he thought there was a market for selling water bottles in the rickshaws. This incident shows Irfan had a problem-solving skill.

2. Why does Irfan think that entrepreneurship is in his blood?

           Irfan thinks that entrepreneurship is in his blood because he had an interest in business from a very early age. He was enterprising since his childhood. During the stock market scam on 1992, his father and his friends lost a lot of money. Irfan helped them to recover their losses and even make profits.

3. What encouraged Irfan to open his own portfolio management firm?

             During the stock market scam in 1992, his father and his friends lost a lot of money. Irfan started taking an interest in the stock market and began researching various companies. Using his advice, his father’s friends recovered their losses and even made profits. This encouraged Irfan to open his own portfolio management firm.

4. What was Irfan’s prize winning business proposal?

                Irfan suggested that rickshaws should be redesigned so that the spaces on the vehicles could be sold for advertising and brand promotion. He also suggested that additional incomes could be got by selling water, juice, biscuits, mobile cards and newspapers to the passengers in the rickshaws. This was Irfan’s prize winning business proposal.

5. Why did Irfan refuse the prize money of the TV realty show?

          He wanted to provide the rickshaw pullers with insurance, ID-cards and uniforms. He wanted to run the business as a ‘not-for-profit’ organization. He thought it to be the best way to sustain the business and the easiest way to get banks to give out loans. The organizers of the TV show did not agree to this model and so he refused to take the prize money.

6. Where did Irfan get his seed money for his project?

         Irfan got his seed money for his project from his family and friends.

7. What kind of facilities does SammaaN offer the rickshaw pullers?
          They are given training on basic etiquette and traffic rules. Then they are helped to get a bank loan for a new rickshaw. They feel empowered because they are pulling their own rickshaws. They are also given accident and health insurance. Each driver is given an ID card. He has to wear uniform while operating the vehicle. The rickshaw puller now becomes a member of the SammaaN family.

8. What are the ‘other benefits’ than monetary benefits offered to the rickshaw pullers?

             Rickshaw pullers now have a sense of belonging and empowerment. Their wives and children attend free evening classes called Sammaan Gyaan. SammaaN has brought dignity to those previously known as menial laborers.

9. What are the other activities of the SammaaN foundation?

           The SammaaN foundation runs free evening classes called Sammaan Gyaan which is attended by the wives and children of rickshaw pullers. They also engage in a lot of trading activities like selling water, juice, pre-paid phone cards etc. to the passengers in the rickshaw. SammaaN has brought dignity to those previously known as menial labourers. SammaaN is profitable. Last fiscal year, it made a profit of 8 lakhs. It has an R&D Wing researching on solar-powered fibreglass rickshaw.

10. Why does Irian think that rickshaw is not a dying breed?

             Irfan thinks that rickshaw is not a dying breed for many reasons. Rickshaws are still popular in many parts of the country. In the last 2 to 3 years the number of rickshaws has actually increased in New Delhi by 20%. It is the popular transport to and from the metro stations. Rickshaws are the vehicles of the future as they are environmental friendly. There is R&D wing of SammaaN working on a solar-powered fibreglass rickshaw.

11. What do you understand by solar-powered rickshaw?

           Today the rickshaw puller has to use his physical power to make the rickshaw move. In the solar-powered rickshaw, solar power will be used for moving the rickshaw. That way the rickshaw puller will not have to struggle physically.

12. What is Irfan’s suggestion to tackle unemployment in our country?
           Irfan thinks that entrepreneurship should be made as a career. An entrepreneur is one who sees an opportunity and puts conscious efforts to make it an enterprise. People discourage youths from taking this path. Entrepreneurship can tackle unemployment in the country.

Activity I (Think and Respond)

1. What qualities, do you think, should an entrepreneur possess?

           An entrepreneur is one who sees an opportunity and puts conscious efforts to make it an enterprise. He should have courage, vision and other leadership qualities. He should be willing to take risks. He should remember ‘No pain, no gain’. He should have a dream and then work hard to realize it.

2. Why do people discourage youth to choose the path of entrepreneurship?

           People discourage youth to choose the path of entrepreneurship because they think they will end up in losses. Parents encourage children to look for employment in the government service or in some companies where they can get a regular salary. Entrepreneurship involves risks because the enterprise might fail.

3. Irfan Alam says that “it is important to take risks to achieve your dreams”. Comment on this statement

            To achieve one’s dreams one has to take risks. A child will never learn to walk if he is afraid to take the first step. The Wright brothers would never fly if they were afraid. No pain, no gain. If you have dreams you should be prepared to take risks. Could men go to the moon if they refused to take the risk?

4. What are your dreams in life? How do you plan to pursue your dreams?

            My dreams in life are to become a good engineer and a good person. I will study hard and try to get high marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. I know that engineers are the ones that make the world a worthy place to live in with all the engineering marvels we witness today. Above all, I want to be a good person so that I can help my fellow human beings to live a life of comfort.

5. Have you read or heard of other young and successful entrepreneurs. Share their stories in your class.

             I know about a young and successful entrepreneur. His name is Jison Jose. After his M.Com, he did his MCA. Instead of looking for. government jobs or employment in a company, he started his own company called G & J Infotech. He took two rooms in a building in town and started the office there. He had financial help from his family. He hired some experts and started producing various kinds of soft software which soon became very famous. The most popular one is called E-School Solutions. He now has some 30 employees in his company. His wife Dhanya, who is also an MCA holder, ably assists him in the work. Currently Jison is the local Chairman of the prestigious organization, JCI (Junior Chambers International), and is busy doing a lot of social service to improve the plight of the poor.

Activity II (E-mail)

The R&D wing ofSammaaN is planning to redesign rickshaws with necessary improvements. Think about some useful modifications that you would like to suggest to Irfan Alam. Negotiate your ideas with your partner and make a final list of modifications.

 Answer          

To: lrfanalam@Qmail.com

Dear Irfan,

       Its really a good effort that you introduced pre-paid cycle- rickshaws, the

traditional mode of transportation which is quite plenty now in many cities of our

country. It is said that R&D Wing of SammaN is planning to redesign rickshaws with necessary improvements. I would like to suggest something regarding the new-designing of rickshaws. In my opinion, if some modifications are done, it would be easier to handle and more comfortable for travel. We have seen that most of the rickshaws don’t have head cover completely. It should be extended for the rickshaw puller also. Panels should be there for the privacy of the passengers. The seats be made of cushion with head rest and it should be redesigned as low floor for the convenience of children and aged people. The back side of the seat can be made in such a way that the luggage of the passengers can be kept. Fans, phone charging docks, FM can be attached. The seats should be adjustable and foldable that the rickshaw can be used for carrying loads/luggage when there are no trips. Likewise, integrated gear system will make the pedaling easier as we find the cycles with gear. Such modifications along with the solar powered fiber glass rickshaws planned by the R& Wing would bring an innovative mode of transportation and eco-friendly at the same time.  

Though new trends are emerging every day, this human powered transporting

system is an easier and cheap alternative for getting around in crowded cities like

Mumbai, Chennai etc. So if we change with the change, it will boost the living of

the poor sect of the society who mainly depends on such jobs and the commuters

as well.

Sincerely

Name

Activity V: (Identifying Facts from Opinions)

Read the following statements and say whether they are facts or opinions, Write F against tacts and O against opinions.

Answer:

a. The fastest land-dwelling creature is the cheetah. – F

b. Facebook was launched in 2004. – F

c. Switzerland is the most beautiful country. – O

d. Harry Potter and the HALF Blood Prince sold 9 million copies in the first 24 hours of its release. – F

e. Oranges contain both calcium and vitamin C. – F

f. The more money someone has the more successful they are. – O

g. It is cheaper to buy mobile phones online. F

h. People should be encouraged to eat vegetarian food.-O

Read the following paragraphs and identify the facts and opinions. List them in your Activity Log.

Answer:

Facts: You can travel around the country in Shinkansen (bullet) train. They connect major cities in Japan. They are nick named bullet trains because they go very fast and have pointed noses like a bullet. They have great speed and punctuality. They are comfortable. All the seats face forward, and there is plenty of leg room. Only a few accidents have taken place in their history and no deaths. They are expensive. Train stations are in the middle of the city.

Opinion: A ticket to travel to another city can cost almost as much as an airline ticket would. It is often convenient to take a bullet train instead of flying because you will arrive exactly where you want to be.