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Indian railway 'coolies' to be renamed in bid to improve their status | Indian railway 'coolies' to be renamed in bid to improve their status |
(6 months later) | |
The lot of the downtrodden Indian railway “coolie”, or porter, is set to improve under plans laid out by the government to try to modernise the country’s vast railway system. | The lot of the downtrodden Indian railway “coolie”, or porter, is set to improve under plans laid out by the government to try to modernise the country’s vast railway system. |
Porters will now be referred to as “sahayaks” (“helpers” in Hindi) instead of “coolie”, a derogatory term widely regarded as a relic of British colonial rule in India. Porters will also be given new uniforms, be asked to learn “soft skills” for dealing with passengers, and to ease the hardship of carrying heavy suitcases – often balanced on their heads – more trolleys for porters will be made available. | Porters will now be referred to as “sahayaks” (“helpers” in Hindi) instead of “coolie”, a derogatory term widely regarded as a relic of British colonial rule in India. Porters will also be given new uniforms, be asked to learn “soft skills” for dealing with passengers, and to ease the hardship of carrying heavy suitcases – often balanced on their heads – more trolleys for porters will be made available. |
The series of measures aimed at lifting the status of porters and improving their working conditions were announced to the Indian parliament by the railways minister, Suresh Prabhu. | The series of measures aimed at lifting the status of porters and improving their working conditions were announced to the Indian parliament by the railways minister, Suresh Prabhu. |
Whilst many of the proposed changes have been welcomed by the army of Indian porters – 300 alone are said to work at Chennai central station – talk of their iconic crimson uniforms being replaced with shirts bearing sponsors’ logos is seen by some as a step too far. | Whilst many of the proposed changes have been welcomed by the army of Indian porters – 300 alone are said to work at Chennai central station – talk of their iconic crimson uniforms being replaced with shirts bearing sponsors’ logos is seen by some as a step too far. |
One porter told the Times of India that if the minister really wanted to do something for them, he should have focused on retirement plans as well as creating job opportunities for their children. | One porter told the Times of India that if the minister really wanted to do something for them, he should have focused on retirement plans as well as creating job opportunities for their children. |
But for now, many of the porters, most of whom earn only 400 rupees (£4.20) a day, have a different concern: the growing trend in India for using wheelie bags, meaning fewer passengers are paying porters to carry their luggage. | But for now, many of the porters, most of whom earn only 400 rupees (£4.20) a day, have a different concern: the growing trend in India for using wheelie bags, meaning fewer passengers are paying porters to carry their luggage. |
Babloo, a porter at Ludhiana railway station in the Punjab, told Indian newspaper the Tribune: “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 is passengers who need some training in soft skills so that they speak to porters with humility.” | Babloo, a porter at Ludhiana railway station in the Punjab, told Indian newspaper the Tribune: “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 is passengers who need some training in soft skills so that they speak to porters with humility.” |
Partap, another porter, said: “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.” | Partap, another porter, said: “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.” |
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