Courses shut, migrant caddies feel the heat

New Delhi, April 11

With the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) suspended and golf courses shut due to the coronavirus lockdown, the daily-wage caddies are feeling great financial stress, with most worrying about their livelihood.

The caddies are the most affected as they depend on day-to-day work for their livelihood. There are 2,500 to 3,000 caddies in the NCR region, with most being migrants. While many are regular caddies, hundreds of others work part-time.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Rashid Khan believes that the caddies more than anyone else will face a tough time if the situation doesn’t improve quickly. “The lockdown is affecting the caddies a lot. They earn money on a daily basis, they don’t have any other incomes. It will be difficult for them to sustain if things don’t improve,” Rashid said. “Even my caddie (Imran Mohammad Ansari), who is from Mumbai, texted me for financial help.”

Mantu, who has caddied for Rashid Khan, Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma and 2015 Junior World Golf champion Shubham Jaglan, said if things don’t get to normal, most of the caddies will be in trouble.

“In our country, only 5% of caddies are well-off, earning Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month and can manage their household,” said Mantu, based at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC). “Only 50-60 caddies regularly travel with the top golfers in the PGTI, some of the caddies get a salary from golfers for whom they caddie but rest are completely dependent on daily wages. Fortunately, I have saved 30 % of the money that I have earned in my life. So I don’t need help now as such. I can sustain my family,” he added.

Mumbai-born Imran, who has been caddying for Rashid for the last four years, said he is worried about his future. “We are in deep trouble with golf courses being closed. Our club is currently providing ration like rice, pulses, onions and potatoes but that is not enough. We are somehow managing,” said Imran. “We earn Rs 500-600 if we caddie for any member on a day but now with no work, things are looking gloomy.”

“There are around 140 caddies who have come from outside. These people are in bigger trouble, they are not getting help,” added the 37-year-old, who works at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club.

While Bombay Presidency Golf Club is providing ration to the caddies, the Bangalore Golf Club will pay Rs 300 daily to each caddie till the club opens again. The Noida Golf Club has paid sums of Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 to the caddies, while the Patna Golf Club has helped its caddies with Rs 1,000, apart from distributing food items among them.

Given the situation, the Caddies Welfare Trust (CWT) at the Delhi Golf Club has written to the Home Ministry to consider opening the golf courses in the country. — PTI