Aurangabad, Nov 3:
Always willing to carry heavy luggage of travellers for a nominal fee, porters (coolies) at the Aurangabad Railway Station are now themselves struggling for a day''s meal.
For years, the red-uniformed porters have been an integral part of the railway life and have also inspired some Bollywood films, but they are now facing a big challenge of how to sustain their livelihood. Following the mission begin again announcement, the porters were hoping to start earning. But work has not gained any momentum as only eight trains ply from Aurangabad at present. Similarly, the increased tendency to carry less luggage on the trip, handle-wheel suitcases and bags reduced the need for porters. Moving escalators and lifts at railway station have also added to the unemployment. There are 14 porters at the railway station who used to earn Rs 300 to Rs 400 every day prior to the lockdown. But after the trains came to a halt, this meagre income also stopped. Since no one gets enough money for two meals a day, the question of how to support the family has arisen. The porters now hope to get some help from the railway administration and Bollywood stars who built their career through enacting coolies.
No one thought of us
Coolie Sheikh Rafiq said the trains were suddenly shut down during lockdown. No one even thought about how the porters would survive. Still somehow the days went by, but now, passengers do not let us come close due to fear of coronavirus.