Rail Budget 2016: Trains, coaches for poor in image makeover bid

Coolies to be called ‘sahayaks’, given soft skills

The Rail Budget proposed by railway minister Suresh Prabhu has sought to come to the rescue of the poor lots of the coolies (porters).

Mr Prabhu said that the coolies would henceforth be called “sahayak” and would sport a distinctive uniform. They would also be imparted with soft skills to rope in them for other services in the railways.

The Rail Budget 2016-17 has sought to please the poor sections of the society. While there were growing complaints that the number of general coaches are being reduced in the express trains, Mr Prabhu unveiled dedicated trains for passengers who travel in unreserved categories.

In a clear bid to seek an image makeover to endear the Modi government to the poor, Mr Prabhu proposed a new train, Antyodaya Express, meant for unreserved passengers to enjoy superfast speed.

Additionally, he also unveiled DeenDayalu unreserved coaches with potable water and higher number of mobile charging points. Such coaches will be added in express and mail trains. “We are looking forward to add about 10,000 to 15,000 such coaches in the trains to cater to the needs of the passengers travelling in unreserved categories,” said a senior official of the Railway Board.

The late Deen Dayal Upadhyay and his philosophy of “ekant maanavawaad” is considered the core ideological basis of the ruling BJP. “The BJP leaders, in their interactions with Mr Prabhu, had suggested that the Rail Budget should bear imprints of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Therefore, the DeenDayalu coaches and Antyodya trains show the pro-poor concerns of the government,” said the official.

Incidentally, the late Upadhyay had advocated the government to improve the lots of Antyodaya (the last man in the socio-economic pyramid). In the times of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr Shanta Kumar, who was Union minister for food and public distribution, had come up with Antyodaya Anna Yojna for highly subsidised foodgrains for the poorest of the poor.

Mr Prabhu also sought to steer the railways towards the poor sections of the society by proposing that they can be allowed to cultivate horticulture and other foodgrains on the railway land.

He also proposed that the women would be given 33 pert cent reservation in commercial licenses to set up meal stalls at stations.