82 SOCIAL SCIENTIST
labour power both for construction of buildings and railways under private contractors as well as railway contractors under the public sector.
NATURE OF THE EMPLOYMENT
Initially when work was offered in railways both on temporary basis and permanent basis, the poor people of tribal and non-tribal commmunities had not accepted. The following reasons were important for the Lambadaas of Poosala thanda: Firstly, they were worried about their health and personal security since this was an unfamiliar occupation which involved living in the heart of the forest which had to be cleared and where tracks had to be laid. There was a lack of provisions for security and communications were poor. Secondly, although they were offered railway quarters to live in nearby railway tracks, they preferred to stay within their own milieu and their own social groups rather than living with non-tribes in remote forest locations. ^
However in the 1930s 3 men from Poosala thanda with many others from various thandas nearby Dornakal finally accepted work as gangmen. At that time to become a gangman one did not require any previous training or skills, for it was mainly an unskilled, laborious job. As the years passed it was apparent that the standard of living of these few gangmen families in comparison with other families was comparatively much better because the gangmen could avail of the opportunities provided by the railways, (like schools, hospitals, quarters, regular monthly salary and free passes to move around in trains).
Gradually this difference operated to change the initial perceptions of the gangmen's own relatives as well as the cultivators and labourers in nearby villages, who now tried to get in touch with gangmen and made enquiries about the possibilities to find employment in the railways. Both the tribals and non-tribals were attracted by the assured income provided as compared to the low and uncertain income they obtained. Thus there was a heavy rush to work in railways. Becoming aware of this fact, senior gangmen, maistrees, contractors and engineers started capitalising on the issue and started operating at their own individual level as well in groups for recruiting new labour. Railway department officials and other operators developed their own 'cuts', or system of shares which have to be paid to them in order to get a new entry into the railways as a gangman. This illegality has become so common that it is de facto legalized and is viewed as a right by these officials and middlemen. Every one has a cut share according to the rank in the hierarchy.
Many Lambadas from different places joined as gangmen out of which 22 families joined from Poosala thanda. The reasons for the rush