Interview with a telephone lineman from Delhi

This is a transcript of an interview I conducted with a telephone lineman from Delhi.Since I'm In Bangalore,The interview happened over the phone. 

Me: Hello, I'm calling you to ask a few questions which will help me learn about your profession.I'm making a film who's protagonist might end up being a telephone lineman.

Him: Sure, go ahead.

Me:Are you from Delhi? 

Him: Yes. I've been born and brought up in Delhi itself, and have been working as a lineman for more than 30 years.

Me: Does one start as a lineman or did you start with other jobs?

Him: I started when i was 18, I used to do digging work at that point. After a few years of doing well, I was encouraged by my peers to give an exam which i passed, and then went on to a 6 month training period where I learn all about telephones and wires, the colour codes, the connections, those sort of things.

Me: Ok. What kind of uniform do you wear?

Him: There used to be a uniform which has been discontinued for the last 6-7 years. Now people wear whatever clothes they have. Some dress up neatly and smartly, and some don't care.

Me: Would you recommend the job to your children or other people who might be interested?

Him: Not at all. It's a difficult job and has it's dangers. The Pay isn't great and currently I'm the only lineman in an area of atleast a good 3-5 Kms. I start every morning at 9 and go on till 5 in the evening, Fixing all the faulty connections. Since there's only one person at this point,  I have to climb the poles and there's no one to hold the ladder in place. Just recently i fell of a pole when a biker nudged the ladder.Im pretty tall so thankfully i didnt get hurt badly.

Me: What kind of equipment do you carry for this?

Him: I have a box with wire cutters, A tester, a receiver.

Me: What exactly is a receiver?

Him: It's just like a receiver of a regular telephone but has a keypad.

Me:Is it possible to connect it to a line and hear the conversation?

Him: It is possible , but there is a strict rule to never do that kind of thing. We only connect it to check faulty lines.

Me:Do you have to go out for emergencies, say faults caused due to rain?

Him: I work in a hospital campus, so for us everything shuts by 5. There is regular timing and all faults that might happen in the night are fixed the next day.

Me: What about your breaks? Lunch etc?

Him: It depends from day to day. But everyday i report to office by 9 and on an average it's hard to get time for lunch. Im eating my lunch only now ( 6pm)

Me.: What about your house is it far from your workplace?

Him: Yes, it's around 15kms from here, I live in a DDA flat. My house was demolished and all of us were rehabilitated there. Theres one room, one kitchen, one bathroom, thats about it.

Me: And your family?

Him: I have a son and a a daughter and both of them are in school, the daughter is intelligent and is giving her 12th exams this year.

Me: How do you travel from work to home?

Him: I use my bike. 

Me: Do young people join for this job nowadays?

Him: No not at all, only those apply who don't have parents, havent studied etc. The average age at my office is very high and I'm considered a young man over there (laughs)

Me: Thankyou for your help sir, I'll call you sometime soon when i have a few more questions.

Him: No problem.