Lucknow — The National Coolie Front (NCF) has submitted a memorandum to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding the ongoing strike by coolies at Raipur Railway Station, Chhattisgarh, protesting the introduction of battery-operated vehicles.
According to Ram Suresh Yadav, NCF Coordinator, the new battery-run cars pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of the local coolie community, prompting the ongoing family-inclusive protest. Discussions between coolie representatives and railway officials reportedly did not yield a resolution, as authorities stated that the battery vehicles would continue to operate to facilitate passenger convenience, taking a firm stance against the protest.
The memorandum urges the Railway Minister to consider the concerns of striking coolies with empathy and refrain from any form of coercion. It highlights that privatization and modernization efforts by the railway administration have negatively impacted coolies’ earnings, putting their livelihoods at risk.
The NCF appealed for a structured reintegration of railway coolies, similar to the 2008 policy, to ensure economic stability and dignity for the workforce.
The memorandum was drafted following a virtual meeting of NCF’s National Executive Committee, chaired by Chandeshwar Mukhia, with key members including Kaleem Makrani, Rambabu Bilala, Ram Mahawar, Anil Sawle, Arun Kumar, Rahul Kumar, Arvind Kumar, Mool Chand, Raj Kapoor, Shivram Yadav, Rehmatullah, Zafar Ahmed, Arun Kumar Yadav, Bharat Bhushan, Raj Kumar, and Kanhaiya Gwala expressing their concerns.
