Shreeman Thami, 58, of Charikot in Dolakha, was just 15 when he landed in Darjeeling with his father in search of job opportunities. He then began working as a porter and has continued the profession ever since.
“I hardly managed two squares of meal a day with the income. I am now planning to return home,” Shreeman said.
The Nepali month of Baishak to Bhadra is said to be the peak season for porters in Darjeeling.
The jobs are, however, at risk for the Gorkhaland movement is set to intensify at that time. “It will be difficult for us to manage basic necessities when the movement gets going,” said Harka Thami of Kalinchok-8 in Dolakha, a porter by profession. According to Harka, many of the porters hail from Dolakha, Sindhupalchok and Charikot. Harka earns around Rs 200-Rs 500 a day from his business.
Nepali porters clad in Dhaka topi and with ropes holding the goods on their heads and shoulders are seen plying on the streets almost the whole day. Most live with their families.
Aware of their rights, Nepali labourers formed a group for the welfare of labourers two years ago with the porters having to pay levy to the organisation. But the organisation is yet to raise their concerns.
According to a survey carried out by an organisation in Darjeeling, around 200,000 Nepali people are working in Darjeeling and Sikkim.
According to journalist Bimal Rai, around 100,000 Nepali people work in Darjeeling, Mirik, Kharsang, Kalimpong and Sikkim as porters.
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