Chennai: Come summer, this autodriver is ready to quench the thirst of his customers and general public at free of cost.
For the last five years, A Rahamathullah does the noble job out of his own interest. “When people’s thirst is quenched, even if they don’t thank and bless me, their stomachs will,” he says while speaking to News Today.
Asked about how it started, the 56-year-old says, “I belong to the autostand at Sixth Avenue, Ashok Nagar (near Canara Bank). A joint proposal was mooted to set up a common thanneer pandal at the autostand. But none of the drivers came forward to do it. So, I started of my own.”
“I have fixed a permanent structure near the driver seat in the auto to accommodate the 25 litre water can with a tumbler. On an average, two cans are used per day and I refill it at the drinking water filling stations. I serve people during the summer season from March to May,” he says.
“I also supply buttermilk for the general public and customers once a week during May,” he adds.
Rahamathullah also wants his fellowmen to do the service. “I am ready to help them by fixing the stand to hold the 25 litre water can,” he says.
Apart from driving the auto, he is also a mechanic. “I have been driving auto for the last 15 years. Earlier, I worked in a sewing machine company as a mechanic. Due to low vision and non-affordability to undergo operation, I had to give up the job. Now, I have undergone treatment and want to render more service to people,” he says.
Rahamathullah can be reached at 98416 92146.