Nearly 12,000 porters are working with various agencies, army, tourism, pilgrimages, hiking, and mountaineering etc carrying the load and baggage up the hills to their respective destinations. At times, they have been rendering crucial services even at the risk of their lives. Most of them are to be found working in forward mountainous areas in J&K. In Kargil war, these porters took great risk and carried arms, ammunition and other equipment up the mountains to Indian pickets.
The point is that these porters have been rendering service to the army for more than 20 years. On humanitarian basis, they deserve a very humanistic treatment and support during their old age when they are physically no more able to carry loads. This is what the Apex Court told the Attorney when the case filed under PIL was taken up for hearing.
We would like to invite the attention of the State Government to the fact that a large number of porters are engaged in various services like defence and tourism. They have rendered many years of service. They are part of our society and the State Government should take care of their health, families and old age well being. In this connection, the matter should be entrusted to a committee to report on how the interests of this segment of society can be served. It could be in the shape of incentives for self employment or pension or something better.
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