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OneGrassRoot

(22,920 posts)
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 12:20 PM Apr 2013

Gift Economy Rickshaw



In June 2010, we inaugurated Ahmedabad's first Love-All-Serve-All rickshaw. This gift-economy rickshaw will give riders the chance to go from one place to another, on a pay-it-forward basis: someone before you has paid for you tab, and you can pay-forward whatever you want for those after you.

The idea was seeded by a chance encounter of a volunteer ... and then on Oct 21st of 2010, on the day of Dashera, we started Ahmedabad No Rickshawalo. On this day, which traditionally marks the triumph of goodness over evil, we intended to take India's ancient "Guest is God" value and give riders a chance to experience the city with new eyes. Since, then, the rickshaw has been running six days a week, as Uday-bhai shares a lot more than a ride.

In addition to the concept, the rickshaw itself is unique. The meter always reads zero; inside are inspiring reading material; a "truth" and "love" container in the back holds various snacks for the riders; there's a trash can inside so you don't have to litter on the streets; on the back, it proudly reads Gandhi's statement: Love All, Serve All.

http://www.movedbylove.org/projects/rickshaw/
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