Training in soft skills of no help, say ‘sahayaks’

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 27

Coolies who have been re-christened as sahayaks feel that the actual problems faced by them found no mention in the Railway Budget and they continue to feel ignored.

Babloo, a porter, said: “The Railways Minister announced that porters would get new uniform and training on soft skills. But this training will be futile as porters are experienced in their work and would learn nothing new from the training. Instead, it were passengers, who need some training in soft skills so that they speak to porters with humility.”

Porters here said they had demanded insurance and pension and a proper rest room at Ludhiana railway station as in the absence of it they had to sit in a small room, which was insufficient for 64 coolies.

“We continue to be neglected for the past 40 years and our condition will not change by just addressing us as sahayaks. We have been demanding benefits such as pension and insurance, which will actually benefit us after retirement,” said Partap, a porter.

Another porter Surinder has been engaged in this work at Ludhiana railway station for the past 20 years. Railway authorities have not extended any facilities such as pension, insurance, duty passes, cloak room, he said.

“The sad part is that licenced railway porter is not an employee of the Indian Railways. He is licenced by the Railways to earn a livelihood by offering his services to passengers for transporting their luggage. If he fails to follow the regulations, his licence can be suspended or cancelled,” Surinder said.

Porters at Ludhiana railway station rued that they were not entitled to any compensation by the Railways in case of injury, disablement or death while performing their duty.

Samrat, while adjusting luggage on his head, said they were also facing problems because the Railway authorities had restricted them to handover their badges to their relatives.

“Authorities say that the badges must be handed over to our children only. But we do not want our children to live this life. Earlier, coolies used to earn a little money by giving their badges to their relatives or needy persons,” Samrat said.