Tamil Nadu: From photojournalist to autorickshaw driver in PPE

Dilip Kumar from Chennai's Velachery, a photojournalist for two-decades, is now driving an auto-rickshaw around the city wearing a PPE suit and a protective transparent plastic screen guarding the passenger compartment, providing safe carriage for his passengers. Dilip started driving the auto-rickshaw as part of his project to document the hardships faced by the auto-rickshaw drivers.

Chennai: A photojournalist for two-decades, Dilip Kumar (39), is now driving an auto-rickshaw with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear and a protective transparent plastic screen guarding the passenger compartment, providing safe carriage for his passengers, in Chennai.

Having worked in regional dailies and magazines besides contributing to foreign magazines, Kumar switched to freelancing and focused on making documentaries and short films.

Kumar's journey as an auto-rickshaw driver began from southern pocket Velachery, after he decided to document the lives of auto-rickshaw drivers in the country. His motif then, as he puts it, was to bring out the pains of auto-rickshaw drivers. He hired an auto-rickshaw and has been driving in the city jotting down his real life experiences for his documentary just two days ahead of COVID-19 outbreak on March 22, 2020.

Two days into the trade, Dilip Kumar decided to make a twin-career out of the auto-rickshaw without foregoing his quest through his lens.

According to Dilip Kumar, this model would benefit him in the long run when he has to cover long distance assignments and shoots.

"I decided, I have to continue this. Passenger safety became my primary concern. I decided to put on a PPE for my work. I approached a tailor to make the plastic screen, a detachable one. I will sanitize the passenger carriage and the screen after every ride", he said.

Dilip believes he would be able to make his ends meet through this trade as well.

"It is quite common for carpooling in own board vehicles in abroad, but you need a maxi cab registered commercial vehicle if you are to charge your passengers. I cannot do that in my car used for my domestic purpose, but I can do this with the auto-rickshaw, which is already a commercial passenger vehicle", he adds.