Railways passengers are sharing videos of blankets with food stains, dirt and hair on them have created a huge debate about hygiene practices in train travel. . A question was also raised about this in the Lok Sabha.
But in high-fare trains like the Rajdhani, blankets are said to be laundered after a journey. A blanket and two bed sheets are provided in the air-conditioned coaches. Bed sheets are laundered after every trip so passengers don't question it.
Do not distinguish between travellers. The argument that woollen sheets cannot be cleaned every time can never be accepted. This is because food particles spilled on wool are more likely to harbour microbes than other fabrics. Wool is also a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. If it is given to another passenger without cleaning it, there is a high chance of spreading allergies, skin diseases etc. easily. Allegations of unsanitary conditions in trains carrying millions of people cannot be taken lightly.
Therefore, wool that has been used once on a trip should not be given to another traveller without washing it, as it can easily transmit disease. If that is not possible, then the decision in the public interest will be for the railway administration, which earns several crores of money, to consult about changing the woolen practice and making alternative arrangements.
What will Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav do?