Editor,
On January 7, 2015 my family comprising all women and three kids boarded a train (No 12516) at 6.30 am from Guwahati to Chennai. On reaching Cooch Behar a mob without tickets boarded the train and immediately pushed legitimate passengers out of their seats and occupied them. They also used foul language. My wife and six year old kid also faced the same trauma. The Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) instead of confronting them – ran away. The Police also ran scared. What’s more, these rowdies looking at my family started saying, “Who are these people, they don’t look like Indians, I think they are Nepalese. Nepalese aren’t Indians; they should be thrown out of the train”. My wife speaks Hindi. I can understand how scared she was. Because of such ignorant louts, North-Easterners become outsiders in our own country. My wife called me at 5pm to inform about the incident. I could hear my son crying – “Mei why don’t you call the Police?”
I was in Shillong and immediately called the 24×7 railway helpline number 011-23340000 printed in the ticket since I booked the ticket online. The reply I got was, “Number out of service”. I tried another number 011-39340000 – also a 24×7 railway helpline number. I was greeted by a pleasant female voice in the form of an IVR telling me to hold on, followed by the sound of music and finally when the IVR ran out of music, I heard a ringing sound. After a while a male voice came online – after I had waited for over 5 minutes. The guy online sounded as if he was very disinterested in speaking to anyone. I told him my plight and he gave me a helpline number 1800112511. I called the number; the phone rang repeatedly but there was no response. I tried several times but to no avail. I posted my plight on my Facebook page hoping someone might help. A friend advised me to call the NE Railway AGM, number 0361-2676002. I did, but again there was no answer. He then advised me to call the number 1322 – Indian Railways helpline for ladies and said action will be taken in the next station. I called several times; the phone rang, but there was no answer. Thankfully nothing happened to my family and they finally got off at Howrah station, stayed in Kolkata and booked a flight. My son and the other kids were petrified. What if my son grows up with the feeling, “I will shoh dkhar“, (I will beat up non-tribals ) because once upon a time he was traumatised by these same dkhars? It’s a difficult situation because for quite a while, before I was married I had been room-mates with Biharis, Nepalese, Bengalis, Brahmins etc., and the friendship has lasted and my children call them Uncles. What’s more, my son believed in the Police since he saw on TV that the Police always do good things. Now he is disillusioned. But that’s not the point for writing this letter. The point I want to drive home is – Where was the TT? Where was the Railway Protection Force? Aren’t they supposed to protect the genuine passengers? If they can’t afford to stop these ticketless trouble makers, why bother to sell tickets at all? Make it a free for all ride! What’s more, by allowing people to travel without tickets means that (a) The TT and the RPF personnel are neglecting their duties and should be held accountable by the management for negligence of duty. (b)The Indian Railways are losing revenue to the tune of lakhs every day and we know that the Indian Railways is not in financially sound health.
What about the helpline numbers? Aren’t they supposed to work? Shouldn’t the employees in the call center pick up the call at the 1st or 2nd ring? I know that people who have travelled by train will say that this is normal. Should these incidents be treated as normal? Then we won’t need the service of the TT and the Railway Protection Force, will we? A few weeks back a train was robbed in Bihar and as per reports, the passengers say that the Police Force instead of protecting the passengers – vanished. A Police Force that is too scared to handle rogues have no business to be employed. I have no grudge against anyone here, but what if my family had been harmed? Who will take responsibility? I feel that the onus should lie on those people who had pledged to protect us. If you are too scared to do it, step down, find another job. Meghalaya has recently been in the news for having two outstanding journalists who were given National Awards. I request them to kindly do something about this. I know it’s an uphill task because the Railway Authorities are not interested in any reforms. And when incidents like this happen it’s always us the North Easterners who are targeted, because we look different. I have faith that your voices will be heard. Moreover you were recognised for your hard work and perseverance. The aim is not to create a stir but make the government aware that helpline numbers launched with fanfare should at least answer if not help.
Yours Etc..,
Pyntngen Nongpluh,
Shillong- 8