In a month, Delhi’s homeless cycle rickshaw-wallahs will not have to contort their weary limbs to fit into their puny rickshaws for the night.u00a0Members of the Mother NGO project, which was given by the Delhi government to St Stephen’s Hospital in November 2009a to coordinate the citizen-NGO-government response to homelessness, have designed a convertible cycle rickshaw fitted with a six-feet bed, reading light, FM radio, a small electric fan and a mobile charging port. On October 23, Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dixit unveiled the innovation, aptly named Sukoon (relief). Delhi’s cycle rickshaw drivers will be able to purchase Sukoon next month onward for Rs 15,000-16,000. Mother NGO will help cycle rickshaw drivers raise the money through microfinance.

Dr Amod Kumar, HOD of community health at St Stephen’s Hospital, came up with the idea of Sukoon, a convertible cycle rickshaw after he saw the plight of Delhi's homeless rickshaw drivers. Pics courtesy/Mother NGO