Only woman porter at railway station gets company

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 7

Now, a woman porter, Maya, at the local railway station will not feel lonely at work. Another woman has taken up the job of porter at the station. Lajawati has got the job after the death of her husband Bhajan Lal.

Maya also started working as porter after the death of her husband Ram Kumar two years ago.

The railway officials have allowed them to work on the licenses of their husbands. These women have to work equal to their men counterparts do. Moreover, they also do duty in the evening and late night shifts.

“My children are not eligible for this work as they are under age. It is not an easy task. Walking with heavy luggage in crowd at railway stations is a difficult task for every woman. But we have no other option. We have to work for 12 hours to earn our livelihood. Most of the times, passengers with heavy luggage prefer to hire male porters. But some of them show courtesy and hire us. We have to work equally,” said Lajawati.

“The male porters are very cooperative. They know our problems, so they help us. Initially, I used to feel that it is an odd job but know I don’t find anything unusual,” said Maya, who has been working as porter for the past two years.

Talking about hurdles faced in this profession, Lajawati said her foot got sprained while shifting luggage a few days ago. She could not work for several days.

Both woman porters are not aware about International Women’s Day, but they have no complex for doing an odd job.

“I don’t think only men can carry heavy luggage. The women can do everything,” said Maya.