Indian railways has recently taken
the decision to provide meals for general coach i.e. unreserved (UR) compartment
for 20R (poori-dry aloo with pickle). This is commendable and long awaited. General
compartments are where the poorest travel which essentially means majority of Indians,
and is almost always many times original capacity. So, wherein normal compartment
provides about ninety berths for ninety people, general compartment is occupied
by five to six times the capacity therefore about 500 odd people. I have
travelled in UR quite often when I was young as I used to travel to nearby small
towns of Delhi at short notice. I have also observed how people travel long distance
in these hellholes. It’s so packed that once you are in it is quite difficult
to move around let alone go out to buy during stoppages, also it’s disconnected
so even pantry food don’t reach, so they rely on small time vendors. It is
heartbreaking scene, and little care is what matters. Everyday millions of
people travel in appalling conditions and it seems nobody was really bothered. So,
after so many decades policy makers have taken such decision shows the new ecosystem
at work. That someone with compassion proposed this, and instead of silencing
him or her and carrying on as if nothing can be done or that it is fated, decision
makers decided to work on it is what makes this refreshing. Significantly the choice
of the food and pricing also shows that care was taken and the issue
deliberated. Poori is what common people generally carry for long distance travel. It is
easy and quick to make in large quantity, doesn’t take much space nor gets easily spoiled
and lasts long. Ofcourse, aloo/potato spoils hence they generally prefer pickle, and
yes sliced onion and green chilies. This is something I have seen many times all
across the north and central part of the country. Instead of aloo, pickle will
do and therefore more pooris can be added or price reduced -this can be of much
help for long distance travelers with limited capacity to spend, also big
chunks of onion and chilies could be included. The question of how it will be delivered remains. Hopefully stalls
are placed where the UR compartments stops or these are loaded onto the compartment
(arduous task since there is never really any space). Chance of creating artificial
shortage hence stampede is quite high. There are people in primitive society
who would like to keep fate/blessed binary in tight leash, this is what policy making
was all about (lick those above you, kick those below. It’s a squatter authenticated
value system). So, instead of genuinely involved and participate with
progressive intent, create diversions, delegate misery, find scapegoat and move on (recall mediocre corrupt likes of CR immortalized "paklaam" in the corridor of power as a code for camaraderie. Instead of working out responsive values they even degraded colonial ways with chalta hai). All the
parameters impacting practical application must be studied before these steps
are taken. Issues related to hygiene and waste disposal are equally important. To
understand those entrenched in power matrix don’t assume best of intention, nor
use your benign mindset, these are nurtured in worst frameworks and depraved value
systems. To know their motivations you have to watch wildlife channels or read about hunter
gatherers (to understand likes of Zk I had to work on the umwelt combining sea slug, glow
worm and rabid street dog…even then they shock me with their depravities thus giving
insight on people whom they pleased -for instance, to nurture a mediocre crude disgust into some
kind of state respected artist brand). Hopefully compassion driven policy making
is sustained at action level too. This will give millions of extremely poor
people travelling in worst of condition some respite. Also, if roofs of
compartments have reflectors (or solar panels) this would reduce the temperature
significantly.
