Amid modernisation in railways, porters face shrinking income, bleak future

Railway porters at stations across Uttar Pradesh say their daily earnings have declined substantially as passengers increasingly utilise wheeled suitcases, elevators, escalators, and battery-powered vehicles to move their luggage, forcing them to explore alternative employment opportunities.

“I have worked as coolie for over 12 years, and my father was also in the same profession for over 40-years. But now, I am planning to purchase an electric auto to make ends meet, as porter work no longer provides enough income to sustain a family of four. Demand has fallen sharply as younger generations of passengers increasingly use wheeled luggage, escalators, elevators, ramps, and battery-powered vehicles. When I started working, 3-4 passengers used to avail my service everyday, helping me to earn over ₹600 daily. After 12 years, however, it has become difficult to find even one passenger a day. My income reduced by 50% amid rising inflation,” said Umesh Maurya, a porter at Lucknow’s Charbagh Railway Station, one of the largest railway stations in U.P. 

Vikash Katiyar, another porter working at the station, said conventional trunks started being replaced by wheeled suitcases and trolley bags in the early 2000s, allowing passengers to carry their own luggage.

“The newer infrastructure developed by the Railways over the past 15-years, including lift and escalators, combined with wheeled suitcases, has practically wiped out our job. Hardly anyone is joining the profession now, which was once synonymous with Indian railways. I am in my 50s and cannot easily take up another job, but I gave my son ₹80,000 to start a tea shop outside the station. The shop earns nearly four times what a porter can make,” he said.

Both porters said the only significant work left for them was carrying railway parcels at the station. Since the inception of railways in India in the 19th century, porters have assisted passengers with luggage and parcels, forming an integral part of station operations.

“While station facilities and premium passenger areas undergo substantial refurbishment, fundamental amenities in the Sahayak quarters, where porters live, have deteriorated, with inadequate sanitation facilities. We are excluded from most basic social security benefits, including pensions,” said Amar Pandey, who is associated with Rashtriya Kuli Manch. 

“For a long time, we have been demanding permanent absorption into regular Indian Railways Group-D employment and restriction or regulation on battery-operated rickshaws and luggage trolleys on the platform. However, the authorities have not been listening to our grievances,” said Umakant Singh.