WCCG Chennai Cyclists help poor pedestrians pedal to work – Times of India

CHENNAI: Every day, 72-year-old M Babu has to travel from Perumbakkam to his cobbler shop in Kodambakkam. While he has been making the journey for years, the pandemic brought with it a whole host of problems.
“Even when restrictions eased, I had to walk all the way so that I could earn enough. Or ask for lifts from people passing by,” he says. But today, he doesn’t have to rely on public transport or the goodwill of strangers to get to work. The WCCG Chennai Cyclists, who got to know about his travails, gifted him a cycle under their initiative Project Annamalai.
The project, launched a year ago, aims to distribute cycles to the deprived so they can commute easily within the city. “When there was no public transport during the lockdown, many people who had no other means found it difficult to commute,” says Divagaran T, founder-member of the group. The group has distributed nine cycles so far and are now looking for donors to keep the initiative going. “Though we may not notice them on the roads, many people still use cycle to get around.”
“We named it after the Rajini film ‘Annamalai’, in which the humble bicycle gives him happiness even after he rose from rags to riches,” says Divagaran. In July this year, they distributed nine bicycles as part of their ninth anniversary celebrations to people who needed them, like domestic helps, who often walk from house to house. “It not only makes their commute easier but also helps them save the money they would have otherwise spent on it,” says Divagaran.
Ambika Ramesh, a beneficiary who works as a domestic help in Kolathur, says the cycle helps her save time. “Earlier, I had to walk to work and back but now I cycle,” says the 38-year-old.
With the support of the cycling community in Chennai, the initiative is now being scaled up. “We have a donor-beneficiary model. Donors can sponsor a new cycle or donate a used one. People can refer beneficiaries and their needs will be vetted and verified by our team of volunteers,” says Divagaran. He added that they have got more requests and will be giving 11 more bicycles soon.
If you know someone who needs a bicycle for his/her commute and livelihood, then fill up this form: https://forms.gle/KciYK5QuvpW54RR68