Lok Sabha Question No. 4175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Facilities to Railway Porters
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4175

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## FACILITIES TO RAILWAY PORTERS †4175 SHRI MURARI LAL MEENA:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  bring  porters  under  the Minimum Wages Act, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  provide  regular  pay scales and benefits of social seucity schemes to porters if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government is considering to provide modern equipments  (trolleys,  bag  carriers)  to  make  the  work  of  porters more systematic and dignified, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether the porters have been covered under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya  Yojana  (Ayushman  Bharat)  and  the  other  Government Health Schemes if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the Government  is considering to provide accident insurance and life insurance schemes to porters if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government is taking steps to ensure proper arrangements  of  rest  houses,  drinking  water,  medical  aid  and toilets for porters at railway stations and other public places, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): Sahayaks (Licensed Porters/Coolies) are licensees who have been granted license for carrying luggage of passengers at porterage charges  directly  payable  by  the  passengers  to  the  Sahayaks.  The facilities which are provided to Sahayaks are as follows:

- (i) Pass/PTO facility: One set of 'Complimentary Admin' Cheque Pass and  two  sets  of  Privilege  Ticket  Order  of  Second/Sleeper  class  in  a Calendar year.
- (ii) Education  facility:  Free  educational  facilities  are  available  for wards of Sahayaks in the schools run by Railways' and Railwaymen's Organisations/Mahila Samities.
- (iii) Uniform  facility:  Three  red  shirts  and  one  woollen  shirt  as uniform are supplied every year.
- (iv) Medical  facility:  Medical  facilities  to  Railway  porters  and  their family  members  are  being  provided  at  par  with  Railways  employees and  family  members  as  defined  in  Railway  Medical  Rules  at  the Railway  Hospitals/Railway  Health  Units  where  porter  is  presently working  including  for  referral  to  other  Railway  Health  Units/Railway Hospitals but not to private hospitals empanelled with Railways.
- (v) Rest  room  facility:  Zonal  Railways  have  been  instructed  to provide  restrooms  for  Sahayaks  at  all  stations  with  provision  of potable water, barrack beds, etc. and to progressively provide restrooms with TV and RO water at stations having strength of 50 or more Sahayaks.

Moreover,  Sahayaks  can  also  avail  themselves  of  the  schemes like Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PM-SBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti Bima Yojana (PM-JJBY) which are open for all.

Sahayaks can use Railways' light trollies/hand barrows, wherever available, free of cost for carriage of passenger's luggage.

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