The Porter (Coolie) Economy.

steven_ber · Sep 8th, 2003, 21:56

The great railway bazaar

Entrepreneurship, acquisitions, investment decisions... you will find examples of these in the oddest of places. Sure, they happen a lot in your normal corporate arena - but they also happen in street corners, in scrap yards, even in your railway station. In the New Delhi railway station, a porter's licence can command a price of over Rs 2,00,000. Take a break from your normal work for a tour of the Indian Railway station, a classic example of the Licence Raj economy.by Mayank Singhal.

Full Story.

LaContessa · Sep 8th, 2003, 23:54

What a totally fascinating and educational article. I realised that coolies jobs were sought after, but I didn't realise the extent of the benefits available to them, up and beyond their pay and the additional baksheesh.

wonderwomanusa · Sep 9th, 2003, 05:47

Fascinating article, and it told me current coolie rates, which I was going to ask about. Rs 30-35 is quite reasonable -- and I'll bet they ask foreigners for 50.

Pravin · Sep 9th, 2003, 23:34

Great article,can you imagine someone paying 2 lakhs rupees for a licence,its a huge amount just for a job.
It makes you think how lucky we are living in the western world,and the money we can earn.
I remember my trip to India in Feb,arriving on the train into Delhi,we got charged 100 rupees each by two coolies to take our bags to the car park.I know that sounds as if we got ripped off,but we were so tired,and it was so hot we just wanted to get to our hotel and couldnt be bothered to argue over the price.

steven_ber · Sep 9th, 2003, 23:43

A small price to pay to make 2 coolies very happy.

Thats, and the fact they can pass the licence on to their kids are a couple of good reasons for paying 2 lakhs.

Anyone know how many coolies are licenced to work in Howrah (Calcutta) station?

Nick-H · Dec 17th, 2006, 22:34

Fascinating!

Thanks for the link to this thread, Steven. A thread well-worth revisiting.

I bet prices have gone up a bit since 2003!

Sep 8th, 2003, 21:56	#1
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,556	The Porter (Coolie) Economy. The great railway bazaar Entrepreneurship, acquisitions, investment decisions... you will find examples of these in the oddest of places. Sure, they happen a lot in your normal corporate arena - but they also happen in street corners, in scrap yards, even in your railway station. In the New Delhi railway station, a porter's licence can command a price of over Rs 2,00,000. Take a break from your normal work for a tour of the Indian Railway station, a classic example of the Licence Raj economy.by Mayank Singhal. Full Story. Attached Thumbnails

Sep 8th, 2003, 23:54	#2
LaContessa Diabla Supreme Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 122	What a totally fascinating and educational article. I realised that coolies jobs were sought after, but I didn't realise the extent of the benefits available to them, up and beyond their pay and the additional baksheesh. __________________ It seemed like a good thing to do at the time.......

Sep 9th, 2003, 05:47	#3
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,567	Fascinating article, and it told me current coolie rates, which I was going to ask about. Rs 30-35 is quite reasonable -- and I'll bet they ask foreigners for 50. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Dec 17th, 2006, 22:34	#6
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,654	Fascinating! Thanks for the link to this thread, Steven. A thread well-worth revisiting. I bet prices have gone up a bit since 2003! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Sep 9th, 2003, 23:34	#4
Pravin Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: U.K Posts: 28	Great article,can you imagine someone paying 2 lakhs rupees for a licence,its a huge amount just for a job. It makes you think how lucky we are living in the western world,and the money we can earn. I remember my trip to India in Feb,arriving on the train into Delhi,we got charged 100 rupees each by two coolies to take our bags to the car park.I know that sounds as if we got ripped off,but we were so tired,and it was so hot we just wanted to get to our hotel and couldnt be bothered to argue over the price.

Sep 9th, 2003, 23:43	#5
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,556	A small price to pay to make 2 coolies very happy. Thats, and the fact they can pass the licence on to their kids are a couple of good reasons for paying 2 lakhs. Anyone know how many coolies are licenced to work in Howrah (Calcutta) station?

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