Report of correspondent of Kamgar Ekta Committee
Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) has been actively leading a railway safety campaign for the Mumbai suburban train network. Like other organisations, KEC has, through mass campaigns, successfully achieved certain station-specific demands such as increasing the height of platforms, strengthening foot-over bridges, and getting new ones sanctioned in Badlapur, a station in the suburbs of Mumbai.
In recent months, KEC has taken to the streets of various towns in Thane district, mobilizing people and organizations to demand safer railway travel. Members of KEC went door to door, collecting signatures and inviting citizens to join the campaign. The response has been overwhelming. The depth of concern and anger among residents regarding unsafe travel conditions became evident during these interactions. From elderly individuals worried about the safety of their loved ones to children expressing support, the campaign received wholehearted endorsement.
This enthusiastic response underscored the urgent need to form an active committee of volunteers willing to take the campaign forward. With this objective, KEC organized a spirited meeting in Dombivali, Thane district, on 7th September 2025. Participants included concerned citizens from Dombivali and its suburbs Kopar and Thakurli, Thane and its suburbs Mumbra and Kalwa, as well as from Mumbai. They were united by their shared experience of daily commute, a collective desire for change and the willingness to put their energies into working towards solutions.
A speaker from KEC pointed out that in the capitalist system prevailing today in our country, the economy is geared towards maximising the profits of the ruling capitalist class. Whatever the people have gained, not only in our country but wherever capitalism prevails, has been won through united struggles. Capitalist governments do not give anything to the people until they are forced to do so. Commuters in other countries have struggled for and won safer and better facilities, and that is why their plight is not so horrifying.
The annual subsidy for passenger traffic across India stands at approximately Rs. 30,000 crore—a figure that pales in comparison to the Rs. 6,00,000 crore in annual tax concessions granted to a handful of industrialists. Moreover, in the past four years alone, bad loans amounting to Rs. 4,50,000 crore have been waived for big capitalists. People are demanding that their money – acquired by the government through direct taxes on salaries and indirect taxes on goods and services – be used to subsidise passenger travel and provide better facilities in the trains and stations, not to bail out the big capitalist defaulters.
Although the number of commuters has multiplied over the years, services have not expanded proportionately to meet this growing demand. Why is the straightforward solution of increasing the number of trains not implemented? It was pointed out that the real issue is the fact that people’s money is not used to fulfil the interests of the vast majority of the people. The current economic system is not designed to serve the needs of the majority but the greed of the capitalist ruling class! The capitalist class, headed by the biggest monopolies, sets the agenda, and governments do their best to implement this agenda! The orientation of the economy is towards maximising the profits of the capitalist class. People are there just to be super exploited by the capitalists and to pay exorbitant amounts of indirect and direct taxes!
“What does Vikas (development) mean? There is vikas of the capitalist class: their wealth is increasing every day. But for the working people, the only vikas is in our problems, which are multiplying in number as well as intensity!” These angry comments of a young woman activist accurately sum up the operation of the capitalist economy!
People are misled by false narratives or divided among themselves to distract from the real issues. Recognising this and building unity to confront it is essential. Participants agreed that the fragmentation of commuters weakens their collective voice. Hence, the central objective of this meeting was the formation of working committees involving local residents which would be crucial to advance the campaign. Many passenger and people’s organisations have been working on this issue for years. Uniting them all to wage a united struggle is the need of the hour. It was pointed out that the fight has to be fought persistently with clear objectives in mind. It was emphasized that the campaign must address both short-term and long-term demands. Long-term goals include the demands which will require mass involvement of thousands and thousands of people and sustained united struggle to ensure the following:
- Increasing train frequency to ensure safe and comfortable travel for all.
- Increasing the number of coaches in trains to increase carrying capacity in each train.
Along with this, some station-specific demands also need to be raised. These include:
- Availability and regular maintenance of free drinking water and toilet facilities at every station.
- First-aid and ambulance services along with adequate staff (e.g. stretcher carriers, medical staff) at every station.
- Station masters and other necessary staff like ticket sellers in adequate numbers at every station. Other basic facilities like building and maintaining escalators, staircases, benches, fans, toilets, drinking water fountains, and ramps.
Participants openly shared their concerns and reflections, resulting in a vibrant discussion. They stressed that waiting for a saviour is futile—change comes when people unite and fight for it. The only way to compel the authorities to fulfil our demands is through a united show of strength. Several participants highlighted the need to expand the campaign across the city and volunteered to work alongside KEC. Participants proposed creative ideas to raise awareness, including composing songs, rap verses, social media reels, wearing campaign badges, and conducting signature drives in residential buildings.
The meeting concluded with the formation of a working committee, with a convenor, co-convenor, and treasurer elected. The campaign reaffirmed its commitment to ensure participation of all. The closing message was unequivocal: if people fight, they will win something; if they don’t, they risk losing even what little they have. The meeting ended with a powerful call to action—spread the word, involve friends, and keep the momentum alive!