How does Sammaan help increase the revenues of the rickshaw pullers and sustain the organization?
Sammaan rickshaws are designed with lots of space to display advertisements. The advertisement revenue is shared 50/50 between Sammaan and the rickshaw pullers. Also, rickshaw pullers can choose to sell water, fruit juice, cell phone prepaid cards etc. Similarly, sales profit is split between them and Sammaan. Money earned from transporting the passengers is solely theirs. In general, Sammaan rickshaw pullers can earn 30 to 40% more than what they used to make on their own. Our rickshaw pullers also gain other valuable benefits such as a sense of belonging, empowerment, and dignity as their profession is traditionally viewed as menial labor. Their spouses and children can attend free evening classes called Samman Gyaan. Last but not least, Sammaan is profitable. Last fiscal year we made a net profit of eight lakh rupees ($20,000 USD) from a revenue of 50 lakh rupees ($125,000 USD). I cannot stress enough about the importance of being sustainable. Does Sammaan get directly involved in m
