Feedback of the AIRF’s Leadership meeting with Minister for Railways Sh. Suresh Prabhu
A.I.R.F
All India Railwaymen’s Federation
No.AIRF/24(C)
Dated: January 24, 2015
The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,
Dear Comrades,
Sub:
Brief of the meeting held with Hon’ble Minister for Railways
Yesterday I met Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, and had discussion on various issues, right from 14:00 to 14:45 hrs.
Once again I tried my level best that the FDI should not be brought in the Railways.
I also expressed my fear that, by taking lot of money, there will be
over-capitalization, and since we do not have commercial viable
projects, it will be difficult to pay back the liabilities to the
investors. Though Hon’ble MR has assured that there will not be any
privatization in the Railways, he was still of the view that, for
expansion of the railway network, money is required. He also told that,
he is trying to take interest-free re-payable loan for 35-40 years from
the countries, like Australia, China, Japan, Canada or the World Bank.
I handed him over a copy of representation, containing suggestions for
Rail Budget 2015-16, not to introduce
FDI in the Indian Railways, implementation of various
Welfare Schemes announced by the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways, viz.
establishing of Medical Colleges and opening of
Nursing Colleges and Central Schools and Technical Institutions, “
Own Your House Scheme”
and provision of Mobile Medical Van for treatment of Railway Staff and
their families posted on roadside station, extension of scope of the
LARSGESS, improvement in the condition of Railway Colonies, Roads and
Running/Rest Rooms, improvement in medical facilities, filling up of
Safety Category Posts, extension of facilities of
Privilege/Complimentary Passes to both the parents of the
Railwaymen,replacement of National Pension Scheme(NPS) with “Old
Guaranteed Pension Scheme, absorption of quasi-administrative staff in
the Railways, provision of proper infrastructure and manpower while
introducing new trains, implementation of recommendations of High Power
Committee, appointed by the Ministry of Railways, under the chairmanship
of Shri D.P. Tripathi, to review duty hours of the Running and other
Safety related categories of staff and also provision of proper Pathway
for the Trackmen for performing their duties efficiently and safely.
I also handed him over a copy of our suggestions to increase
productivity of the Indian Railways as also copies of our letters handed
over to
High Level Railway Restructuring Committee, constituted under the chairmanship of
Shri Bibek Debroy and
High Level Committee,
constituted to identify the factors, issues and avenues for improving
financial health of the Indian Railways, under the chairmanship of
Shri D.K. Mittal.
Chairman, Railway Board was also present during course of meeting,
and the Hon’ble MR told him that, the important issues raised by the
Federation(AIRF) for inclusion in Rail Budget 2015-16 should be kept in
view, particularly provision of proper budget for maintenance of Railway
Colonies.
He also promised for better and proper communication with the organized
labour in all the times to come, and also instructed the CRB to ask the
MS to regularly have meetings with the federations in the committee.
Yours faithfully.
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary
Source Order:
Feedback AIRF
