The following post was written by POA Online Volunteer Shrunti Panwar.

A group of disabled merchants in Rwanda say they’ve been targeted and hassled by police. The laborers ride on specially fitted tri-cycles, ferrying people and goods across the border.

The tri-cycles used are uniquely designed and felicitated to carry luggage beneath their seats. These carry-holders enable them to carry goods weighing up to 50 kilograms.

These un-dauntingly courageous individuals pursue their daily wages amidst various hardships, both physical and external. They often encounter strict reprimands from the police, owing to the large sizes of their tricycles. Unlike bicycles, which can easily be maneuvered in small spaces, the tricycle requires broader stretches for movement. Such bulk, often forces these disabled tricycle operators to detour towards heavily potholed roads. The policemen, beyond enforcing such stringent measures, also regulary heavily frisk and often detain these operators on suspicions of delivering contra band goods. Says Yakhaya, one such tricycle operator, "The police at times beat us or even deflate the tires of our tricycles, paralyzing our services on claims that we are dealing in illegal business.”

These operators, have been forced to compete with their able bodied counterparts in this trade of delivery, owing to a grotesque lack of interest by the part of the government towards providing assistance towards the disabled. Ignored, subjected to social stigma, and living in abject poverty, they even earn to be able to afford themselves their basic mode of transport- the wheelchair.

As Yakhaya  states, “The life challenges experienced by other people are the same, but for us, the disability has aggravated the situation and we are appealing for help.”