Covid weighs down coolies’ hopes in Chandigarh

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 16

The two-month halt on passenger trains during the lockdown wreaked havoc on the lives of railway porters. Even when the trains are back on track for two weeks now, lesser footfall and Covid scare has stripped them of hope to recover from the financial lows.

At the Chandigarh railway station, about 30 porters have reclaimed the platform — two teams of 15 each to clock day and evening shifts. Vijay Singh Meena, president of the city’s coolie union, says, “Of the 15, seven or eight coolies visit the platform, alternatively, as we are working on a 50 per cent strength. We are 38 coolies here. Those residing in containment zones and above 60 years of age are staying at home.”

Asking for financial help, Meena, through the All-India Railway Lal Vardi Coolie Union and Akhil Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangathan, has written seven letters to politicians and railway officials, including PM Narendra Modi, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Chairman of Railway Board Vinod Kumar Yadav and the Divisional Railway Manager (East Coast), but to no avail.

Meena shared, “The state and the Central Government has financially helped all labourers, except coolies. I’m at the brink of starvation and burdened with loans. I have withdrawn my children from school as I can’t afford their fee and haven’t paid the rent for my one-bedroom house in Dariya for three months.”

At city’s railway station only two trains, Jan Shatabdi Una-Delhi (leaves in the morning for Delhi and drops off passengers from Delhi to the city) and Pashchim Express, are doing the rounds. Pawan, a railway sahayak who is now selling vegetables for a living, said, “Coolies are hired either by tourists or those who are shifting to a new city. Now, most passengers are travelling out of necessity. To support my old parents and two children, I have started selling vegetables.”

Until Covid affected footfall, porters or sahayaks (formerly coolies) would ferry luggage daily. “Working on alternate days, I have been able to make either Rs 50 or Rs 100 a day. Because of the virus, no one wants us to touch their belongings. As the only breadwinner in my family, I fear for the future of my children,” said Rakesh Kumar, another porter.

Ration for relief

The two-time ration supply by the railway authorities has brought some respite to their miserable condition.

Today, the Ambala Division of the Railways distributed 10-kg wheat, 5-kg rice, 2-kg pulses, 1-kg sugar, 1-kg cooling oil and 250-gm tea among 35 railway sahayaks. “For a family of four, all this ration will last for 10 days maximum. We need financial assistance,” said Meena.

GM Singh, DRM, Ambala Division, said railways provide coolies with OPD hospital services, one-time travel pass and uniforms. “Since there’s no monetary provision for coolies from the Centre, our hands are tied. As and when the passenger trains resume their normal routine, things will get better for them.”