While eight tongawallahs sit atop horse pulled chariots, this new mode of transport is eluding the remaining 12 tongawallahs for the past three years. It’s not that the chariots aren’t available, as three chariots are gathering dust at the cellar of Mysore City Corporation (MCC).
Horse drawn chariots planned under the heritage project of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) were introduced during Dasara 2011, with four tongawallahs getting the benefit.
When the project was conceived, a total of 20 chariots of different designs were planned.
A private firm in Patiala was handed over the task of supplying the chariots. While MCC gives 50 per cent subsidy on the total price of chariots (including the kathewadi breed of horses), priced at Rs two lakh, the remaining will be given on loan from Vijaya Bank.
Installments
The beneficiaries have to repay the loan amount through installments.
Babu M of Kalyangiri, Muniraju of Devaraja Mohalla, Khaleem Pasha of Agrahara and Chandra of Agrahara succeeded in availing the chariots in the first batch, while the second batch (2012) beneficiaries were Suresh of Yaraganahalli, Sadiq Pasha of Shanthinagar, and Musthaq of Ghousianagar.
A tongawallah who is waiting for the chariot for the past two years said that the three chariots were gathering dust; two at MCC cellar in the new building and another at Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW). Those who have been distributed with the chariots are also paying installments without fail. The beneficiaries are also seen knocking on the doors of the bank (branches nearest to the residence of beneficiaries).
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