Chennai Central’s Caretaker of the Departed

Rapid Summary

• N.Selvaraj, nicknamed “Central Body Murugan,” has been retrieving bodies from railway tracks at Chennai’s MGR Central Railway Station for 36 years.
• Murugan started this work at the age of 15 under daunting conditions, often needing alcohol to cope with the grim reality.
• His monthly earnings remain inconsistent, ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹6,000. Payment responsibilities shifted over time from railways to police but lack formal records.
• Despite his service during events like the 2014 Chennai Central bomb blast (for which he was awarded ₹1,800),promises of a permanent job and stable salary by political leaders in 2019 remain unfulfilled.
• He receives no official recognition or employment benefits such as pensions or family security despite decades of service involving arduous tasks like reassembling human remains.
• A recent shoulder injury has limited his physical capacity, leading him to train younger men for body retrievals while still stepping in when needed.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The story of N. Selvaraj highlights both personal resilience and institutional neglect within India’s informal labour ecosystem. For decades, he performed a task that few would dare undertake-retrieving mangled remains from railway lines-with minimal financial reward and nonexistent legal records backing his contributions. Despite being recognized during crises such as the 2014 bomb blast incident and felicitated by prominent leaders later on, promises made to him have gone unfulfilled.

This case underlines broader systemic issues concerning labor dignity for informal workers in crucial but overlooked roles. Lack of documentation prevents individuals like Murugan from accessing social security benefits or career stability. As India progresses technologically and economically,greater attention is required toward integrating such invisible yet essential workers into formal systems that provide fair compensation and protections against occupational hazards.

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