Kumar Gaurav & Mayank Singhal, CCS Working Paper No. 63 (Licenses & Livelihood)
The government controls everything from the issuing of new licenses to the selection procedure of coolies. The process, instead of being simple is marked by the perpetuity characteristic of a porter’s license, huge premium needed for a porter’s license, arbitrary rules regarding transfer of licenses and illegal practices. Political connections and bribery are needed for even for entry into the profession of railway coolies.
