Jumla, May 4 -- Bhim Bahadur Rawat from ward 6 of Sinja Rural Municipality, Jumla, is currently in the mountainous region in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, working as a porter during the Kedarnath pilgrimage season. He left home in mid-April to earn money to support his undergraduate studies after completing Grade 12.

He carries pilgrims on the steep 22-kilometre uphill route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, where thousands of devotees travel daily during the annual pilgrimage season. With demand for porters surging, he said he starts work early each morning, waiting for pilgrims and taking on loads based on his capacity.

He earns between 5,000 and 15,000 Indian rupees a day, depending on the number and weight of passengers. In peak cases...