[sustran] Chariots gather dust, as Mysore tongawallas wait

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/336193/chariots-gather-dust-tongawallas-wait.html
Chariots gather dust, as tongawallas wait
Sreekantswamy B, Mysore, June 2, 2013, DHNS :

*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).