New Delhi: After introduction of "kulhar", "mathkola", Khadi and Handlooms, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad is now likely to announce help to "old and infirm" porters by "relieving" them and accommodating their kin in their place.

"The Minister has taken a policy decision under which the porters, who have grown old and are ailing and still carrying luggage, will be relieved of their jobs and next of their kin will get the porters license automatically," Railway Ministry sources said.

They said that the goodwill gesture to the porters, who are the first and foremost user interface of the Railways, is part of Minister's drive to improve functioning of the Railways, and improve its overall productivity.

The gesture, in which the son replaces the father, is likely to be announced by the Minister in the Budget 2004-05, to be presented on July six.

The over one-lakh porters all over the country are not (not) Railway employees.