By Suraj Kumar, Trackman in Northern Railway
When summer arrives and heat waves begin, people are advised to stay indoors between 11 am and 4 pm, when the sun is hot and intense.
Can you imagine applying this advice to the trackmen of the Indian Railways? It is their duty to remain on the tracks in all weather conditions, regardless of the season. They perform their duty even during the scorching summer days. All weather agencies recorded a maximum temperature of 48 degrees Celsius in Banda district. This is the atmospheric temperature recorded at weather stations.
We trackmen work in such extreme temperatures—which far exceed atmospheric temperatures. Our workspace has no trees, no shade, and no drinking water. Any ordinary science student can tell you that stone and iron tracks heat up faster than anything else. It is ironic that our country has made so much progress in science and economy, yet we trackmen don’t even have basic amenities like water or shade.
We have to work long hours in the scorching heat, which causes extreme fatigue. The extreme heat can make it difficult to think clearly, and because of this, many of us lose our lives getting hit by oncoming trains. Numerous scientific studies have proven that heat has a devastating effect on our body’s functioning.
A major question arises here: why is the railway administration so unconcerned about our plight in this scorching heat? Are we not human? Or is our work not essential for the safety of passengers and the safe movement of trains? Isn’t this situation dangerous for both workers and passengers? If the administration and the government won’t ensure the safety of workers and passengers, then who are they actually working for?
This isn’t just a matter of a few workers or a single day’s work. It is an issue that involves the largest category of workers in Indian Railways and spans the entire summer season. So, don’t we have the right to the resources we need to perform our duties? Don’t we have the right to clean drinking water and a shaded area to rest at regular intervals?