Dehradun : You must have seen the struggle of ‘Coolie’ in the films of Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. How they earn their living by carrying luggage of passengers and earn some money. A lot has changed with time. New technology and facilities have made people’s lives easier, but it has also affected the employment of some people. In Dehradun, since the 1900s, the porters who help the passengers in the train journey have been carrying their burdens, wearing red clothes and wearing badges. But now these porters are going through difficult times.
Electric vehicles, which were introduced to help patients and elderly passengers, are now being used by ordinary passengers as well, which has had a major impact on the livelihood of porters. It has now become difficult for porters who used to earn Rs 100 to Rs 200 a day to get daily work. Many elderly and sick porters do not have money for treatment or even to feed themselves. Sometimes their earning is not even Rs 300 to 400 and the whole day’s hard work goes in vain. There was a time when the strong shoulders carrying the load in red uniform at the railway station were the biggest convenience for the passengers. But today, in this changing era, these porters themselves are buried under an unseen and unbearable burden. Rail travel started in Dehradun in the year 1900, these porters remained the charioteers of the passengers for years. These people, wearing badge numbers, with a towel tightly tied around their waist, and waiting for the porter’s call at every station, are now feeling as if the train of their life is stuck on the tracks.
What is the demand of porters?
The reason for their difficulty is the new facility i.e. electric vehicles, which was started for passengers but now even ordinary passengers are using it. Ram Suresh, President of the National Federation of Railway Porters and Porters Union, said that the Central Government has started modern facilities for the convenience of the common people, due to which their employment has been affected. We are continuously pleading with the government to ensure that the livelihood of Coolie and his family remains secure. We send memorandums again and again. Just as porters were adjusted during the time of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, similarly a policy should be made in the Railways. With the arrival of this car, we and our children are in a position to remain hungry.
Crisis on employment of porters
Ram Suresh further said that he had sought information from the Indian Railway Board through RTI as to the purpose for which this electric vehicle is being run. In response, it was said that it is being run for the convenience of senior citizens and patients, but ordinary passengers are also using it, due to which the problem of porters has increased. About 25,000 coolies across the country and 40-45 coolies in Dehradun and their families are now facing serious problems and they request that the government should make a clear policy for them too.
Some days it doesn’t happen
Elderly porter Ravindra Yadav told that he has been working as a porter at Dehradun Railway Station since 1990 and is supporting his family, but today the situation has become very difficult for him. Today we are not even able to sleep. Sir, sometimes he is not able to earn even Rs 100-200 in a day. Earlier it was easy to earn Rs 300 to 400 a day, now even lighting the stove at home is difficult. This facility was meant for the patients, but now it is kicking us in the stomach.
Lale of 2 meals a day bread
The lines of years of hard work are clearly visible on his wrinkled face, but now a new fear of worrying about the future has also been added to those lines. There are many porters like Ravindra Yadav whose age has advanced and their body is suffering from diseases. Lifting heavy objects for years now results in pain in bones and joints. At the same time, when there is no food even after a day’s hard work, leave alone treatment, even arranging for two square meals becomes difficult.
