Howrah station honours sahayaks with welfare event on 17 August
Synopsis
At one of India's busiest railway stations, the unsung workforce that hauls luggage for millions of passengers finally got a moment in the spotlight. Eastern Railway's Howrah Division held a formal recognition event for its registered sahayaks — distributing shoes and food, and putting a state minister and senior railway officials on record about their value. A small gesture, but a rare institutional acknowledgement for a largely informal, inter-generational workforce.
Key Takeaways
Eastern Railway's Howrah Division held a special recognition event for registered porters ( sahayaks ) at Howrah station on 17 August .
Shoes, food packets, and soft drinks were distributed as tokens of appreciation for their service.
Umesh Rai , West Bengal Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, and Vishal Kapoor , Divisional Railway Manager, attended the event.
The Lions Club of India partnered in the welfare initiative.
Sahayaks are not railway employees but operate under a formal registration system; many come from Jharkhand , Bihar , and Uttar Pradesh .
The Railways has previously provided sahayaks a dedicated rest area at Howrah station.
The Howrah Division of Eastern Railway (ER) organised a special recognition event for registered porters — known as sahayaks — at Howrah station on 17 August, acknowledging their indispensable role in assisting passengers with luggage at one of India's busiest rail terminals.
What the Event Involved
Shoes, food packets, and soft drinks were distributed among the sahayaks as a gesture of appreciation for their consistent service. The programme specifically highlighted their contribution in supporting elderly, differently-abled, and other passengers who require assistance navigating the sprawling station complex.
The Lions Club of India partnered in the initiative, helping translate what began as a departmental welfare proposal into a tangible gesture for frontline workers.
Who Was Present
Umesh Rai, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development of West Bengal, attended the event alongside Vishal Kapoor, Divisional Railway Manager of the Howrah Division, and other senior officials.
'The initiative was proposed by the commercial department of Howrah Division with the objective of extending welfare support and recognition to Sahayaks, who are an important part of the passenger assistance ecosystem at Howrah railway station,' a senior official said. 'The Division appreciated the association with the Lions Club of India, whose support helped translate the welfare initiative into a meaningful gesture for the frontline workers.'
Who Are the Sahayaks
Sahayaks are not railway employees; they operate under a formal registration system designed to ensure the safety and accountability of passengers' luggage. Many hail from states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, and several families have been in this vocation for generations.
In recognition of their efforts over the years, the Railways has previously extended welfare measures to this group — most notably a dedicated rest area within Howrah station, which now serves as a small but meaningful acknowledgement of their daily labour.
Significance of the Initiative
The sahayaks expressed gratitude for the recognition, with officials noting that such programmes reinforce Howrah Division's commitment to passenger welfare, social responsibility, and the well-being of frontline service personnel. 'This token of appreciation will inspire these men to work harder to help passengers,' the official added.
This comes amid a broader push by Indian Railways to formalise and support the informal workforce that keeps large stations functional. With Howrah handling millions of passengers annually, the sahayak network remains a critical — if often overlooked — layer of the passenger experience. Further welfare measures for the community are expected to be considered in the months ahead.
Point of View
If modest, institutional moment for a workforce that operates in a grey zone — registered but not employed, essential but rarely recognised. What is notable is the presence of a state minister alongside railway management, signalling cross-institutional acknowledgement rather than a purely internal exercise. Yet distributing shoes and soft drinks, while symbolically meaningful, does not address the structural vulnerabilities sahayaks face: no job security, no formal wages, and income entirely dependent on passenger footfall. Indian Railways' broader formalisation agenda for ancillary station workers remains incomplete, and events like this, without accompanying policy steps, risk becoming periodic goodwill gestures rather than systemic change.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sahayak at Howrah station?
A sahayak is a registered porter at Howrah station who assists passengers — particularly the elderly and differently-abled — with carrying luggage to and from trains. They are not railway employees but work under a formal registration system that ensures accountability for passengers' belongings.
What happened at the Howrah station sahayak recognition event?
On 17 August, the Howrah Division of Eastern Railway organised a special event to honour sahayaks, distributing shoes, food packets, and soft drinks. West Bengal Minister of State Umesh Rai and Divisional Railway Manager Vishal Kapoor attended, along with representatives from the Lions Club of India.
Why are sahayaks important at Howrah station?
Howrah is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and sahayaks form a critical layer of passenger support, especially for elderly, differently-abled, and other travellers who need help with heavy luggage. Many sahayak families have been doing this work for generations.
Where do most Howrah sahayaks come from?
Many sahayaks at Howrah station are migrants from states such as Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Some families have been engaged in this work across multiple generations, making it a deeply rooted livelihood for these communities.
What welfare measures has Eastern Railway provided to sahayaks?
In addition to the 17 August recognition event, Eastern Railway has previously provided sahayaks a dedicated rest area within Howrah station. The registration system itself is a welfare measure, ensuring some level of formal oversight and passenger safety.
