Arjun Darde, secretary of the union of licensed porters at Mumbai Central feels that the decision has come as a boon as porters have lost business considerably after travellers started carrying bags fitted with wheels. “Hum log din ka 100 rupaya bhi bahot mushkil se kamaate hai. Sab log apna suitcase khud le jaate hai aur hum bas dekhte hi reh jaate hai” (Earning Rs 100 a day has also become difficult as most of the passengers themselves carry their luggage), Darde said.
According to Darde, a government job will bring some sense of security to their lives. “If we are appointed as gangmen, than we may earn Rs 250-300 per day,” he said.
Besides, the porters will be relieved of the license fee. “We have to pay a license fee Rs 5 per porter to the railways. We will be relieved of this if we become Central Railway employees,” he added.
A leader of the gangmen who refused to be named said as there is always a shortage of group D workers, the existing workers end up bearing excessive load. As a result of this, many gangmen are suffering from cervical spondylitis and heart trouble.
“They work for eight hours per day carrying so many tools and cleaning excreta from railway tracks. If they appoint more gangmen, the work will be divided,” the leader of the gangmen said.
This decision will also curb the practice of appointing juveniles as gangmen.
“In absence of an accurate number, the railways appoints children from private contractors as gangmen. They are vulnerable to this tough job,” said Divisional Secretary of National Railway Manzoor Sangh of Central Railways, Haridasan.