Making money by 'helping' people

Safai karamcharis (sanitation workers) and security guards at the Safdurjung Airport in south Delhi were given an unusual work brief on Thursday morning. Jatin Anand reports.

Safai karamcharis (sanitation workers) and security guards at the Safdurjung Airport in south Delhi were given an unusual work brief on Thursday morning.

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As sudden rainfall lashed the capital, the mini airstrip and parking area adjacent to the booking counters of various domestic flight carriers got flooded with more than five feet of water.

"We had no alternative than requesting the non-administrative staff to help us navigate our submerged cars out of the water-logged parking area," said a senior Air India official on condition of anonymity.

"The car wouldn't start because of the water, so the driver had to handle the wheel of the vehicle as a group of the non-admin staff pushed it from behind."

The Safdurjung Airport houses an Indian Meteorological Department observatory and a flying club.

"The safai karamcharis were helpful enough to the first four or five employees who asked for help. The rest had to pay the group of four to five a fee of Rs 100," the official said.

According to those on the receiving end of the safai karmacharis' benevolence they ended-up making more than Rs 1,500 per head.

"The management was absolutely clueless. Most of them stood on the terrace and watched the employees struggling to get their vehicles out of the submerged parking lot as they sipped their tea," he said.