New Delhi: Many porters who work at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) came to the rescue of the passengers – who had gathered at the station on February 15 night – when a stampede claimed 18 lives and left 15 injured. These porters were the first respondents to this tragic incident and carried many distraught individuals and saved their lives.
“Before the rescue team reached, porters carried children in their arms and unconscious victims on carts and helped them reach the hospital,” said a cab driver, who was an eyewitness to the incident.
In general, besides carrying the luggage of passengers, the primary responsibility of porters include guiding clueless commuters in navigating the station premises and directing them to the correct platform. Porters, in many ways, serve as the backbone of Indian Railways. However, they have to face diverse challenges which make their survival difficult.
At New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), a porter waits for a train to stop so that he can carry the luggage of passengers. Photo: Arsalan Shamsi
Technology, low wages and lack of government support
Uday Chand (50), a porter at NDLS for the past 28 years, believes that technological advancements have done more harm than good to his profession.
“Escalators and lifts have significantly reduced our work. Commuting with luggage has become easier for passengers due to these facilities. Passengers now prefer carrying their luggage on wheels, leading to a decline in our earnings,” Chand said.
A native of Rajasthan, Chand pointed that the number of porters have reduced significantly due to the challenging financial circumstances.
For others, the lack of government support adds to their struggles. Ram Kesh, another porter from Rajasthan working at NDLS, shared that apart from a uniform and a railway travel pass, whose validity has been reduced from five months to just four, he receives no additional benefits.
“Due to our low earnings, at least four of us have to share a single room just to afford the rent,” said the 40-year-old, highlighting the financial hardships porters face. “One of our major demands is for our job to be made permanent. If that happens, we would be entitled to crucial benefits such as pension, health insurance, and job security – things that could provide us with some stability and dignity in this profession.”
Porters loading bags on a cart at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Photo: Arsalan Shamsi
At Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Mohammad Kalam earns Rs 150 for carrying 50 kg of luggage, approximately. Reflecting on his three decades in the profession, he recalled how the wages have gradually increased over the years.
“When I started nearly 30 years ago, the rate for carrying 40 kg of luggage was just Rs 7. Over time, it rose to Rs 9, then Rs 15, Rs 18, Rs 25, Rs 50, Rs 80, and now it stands at Rs 140,” he said. While the rates have increased, Kalam emphasised that the profession has not brought financial security. “Despite all these years, we barely manage to earn enough for basic survival, with no savings for the future,” he added.
The 53-year-old was hopeful of a turnaround in 2008, when the then Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, announced that all licensed porters who had been in the profession for at least 30 years would be eligible for Class IV jobs as gangmen under the Ministry of Railways.
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“I suffer from back pain. Due to my health complications, I couldn’t meet the eligibility criteria for the gangman job. I would have been a government employee in 2008, but this medical issue prevented me from applying for the job,” said Kalam.
Another porter, Shadab (name changed), lives near Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station with his wife and two children. He lamented that supporting a family in New Delhi is a constant struggle, especially with the burden of rent and school fees.
“In today’s world, providing quality education for our children is a necessity,” he said. “I send my kids to private schools to ensure a better future for them, but managing the monthly fees often becomes a challenge,” Shadab said.
A porter carrying the luggage of passengers outside a railway station. Photo: Arsalan Shamsi
Shadab regrets missing the opportunity to secure a gangman position in 2008 due to a lack of awareness. “My cousin was appointed then, and he is earning a handsome salary now, while I am struggling to make ends meet,” said the 35-year-old father of two.
For many porters, financial insecurity remains a major concern. Saleem Khan, who works at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, believes their profession is fading away. “This profession is on the verge of dying. We are doing this because we have no choice, but we will not let our kids follow the same path,” he said.
Despite the hardships, porters continue to dream of a better future for their children. Khan, a 33-year-old father, proudly displayed his son’s Olympiad certificate in mathematics, saying, “My kid is doing well in Math, and I want to admit him to a good college when he grows up.”
His sentiment reflects the aspirations of many porters who, despite their struggles, remain determined to provide their children with better opportunities.
Inadequate facilities and rising expenses
Despite being an essential part of railway stations, porters are provided with minimal facilities for rest and shelter. The government has allocated a space within the railway premises, known as the “Coolie Hall,” but it is far from sufficient. The space can barely accommodate 20 people at a time and lacks basic amenities such as lights, fans, and proper bedding, leaving many porters to seek alternative arrangements.
The chart of Do’s and Dont’s for porters pasted outside the “Coolie Hall” at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. Photo: Arsalan Shamsi
Narayan Singh, a porter at NDLS, underlined that many porters are forced to rent shared rooms nearby to reduce costs. Singh, who holds a diploma in polytechnic, inherited his father’s batch number after his retirement.
“We earn around Rs 10,000-12,000 per month, but nearly Rs 6,000-8,000 is spent on daily expenses. I have two kids who go to school, and at times, it becomes difficult to manage and pay their school fees,” said the 33-year-old, highlighting the financial strain porters continue to face.
With declining earnings, a lack of social security, and the growing impact of modernisation, India’s porters find themselves in an increasingly vulnerable position. Once an essential part of the railway ecosystem, they now struggle to survive, facing an uncertain future as their profession fades into the shadows.
The Ministry of Indian Railways and Northern Railways did not respond to questions sent by this reporter via email. The article will be updated, if they respond.
The name of a porter has been changed, and only first names are used to protect identity.
Arsalan Shamsi is an independent journalist based in Delhi.
