India to rename 'coolies' in modernisation drive
India Thursday said it will roll out WiFi to hundreds of stations, install 17,000 hi-tech toilets on trains and professionalise its unskilled porters, or "coolies" under a drive to modernise its creaking railways.
Indian Railways would "collaborate with the best in the world" to modernise its trains and rail infrastructure, he said.
A partnership with Google will see it extend free wifi to 400 more stations within two years after the service hits 100 stations this year, the minister said.
The railway operator will also install on trains 17,000 additional "bio-toilets" by the end of this financial year, Prabhu said.
Station baggage carriers, known by the derogatory name "coolies" after the indentured labourers who served in the British imperial era, would be given uniforms and training in soft skills, he said.
The porters would henceforth be known as "sahayaks", which translates as "helpers" in Hindi "in line with the evolving image of Indian Railways", he said.
So, will renaming them as sahayaks make them any different ?
India deserves the best!
instead of 'sahayaks' how about 'Hulks'......:)
Ya, Ya, We get reminded that we must take care of our host, respect your host, don't put unwanted burden on your host ..... give high regard to your host's for their tolerance to bear us for so long ....... .... .....
By placing the old wine in a new bottle, will it change the taste?
Does calling us "guest workers" change our attitude or status within society ?