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Tamil Nadu
“It’s an everyday problem”
N. Kaliyaperumal, a porter at the Tiruchi Junction.
Dragged by the clutches of inflation, the railway porters bear the brunt everyday. The daily income not being an assured flow to eke out their livelihood, they have been toiling hard to make both ends meet. These porters agree that they used to collect 40 paise about four decades ago to carry the luggage. Although they now collect a minimum of Rs.30, they still have to take loans from the money-lenders to substitute their family budget.
N. Kaliyaperumal (60), who has been in this profession for the past more than four decades, says that he manages to earn on an average Rs.250 a day comprising 24 hours.
On many occasions, this will dwindle down to even Rs.100.
The porters of Tiruchi Junction follow turn system of working for 15 days in a month.
The volume of work has gone down with the introduction of modern suitcases has come as a severe blow with the commuters moving them on their own.
The junction which accounted for 100 porters decades ago now has only 26 indicating the poor opportunities.
A good part of their income is utilised for meeting lunch expenses, break-fast and other incidental expenses, as they have to be away from their home during their turn for the whole day.
“I have to incur at least Rs.100 out of my earnings every day for meeting these expenses”, he says.
How do they manage the present economic crisis.
“I have taken a loan of Rs. 2,000 from the local money lender to make up the current month’s deficit”, he says highlighting the plight of their ilk.
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