MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU, HONABLE
MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS, ON HIS VISIT TO SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY,
SECUNDERABAD ON 19-01-2015.
Respected Sir,
We welcome you on your maiden visit to the Headquarters of South Central
Railway. South Central Railway is one of the best productive Railway
out of all the 17 Zones and year by year it is increasing its earnings
through freight and passenger traffic beyond the targets fixed by the
Railway Board. Under the dynamic leadership of Shri P.K.Srivastava,
General Manager, & his team of officers, it is increasing the
productivity with disciplined staff who are straining their nerves every
movement and bringing laurels from the Railway Ministry.
The following important issues are brought to your kind notice for favourable consideration:
1. WITHDRAW THE DECISIONS OF FDIs AND PPP ON INDIAN RAILWAYS AND SAVE THE INDIAN RAILWAYS.
Indian Railways having more than 64000 Kms. with running of 12,670
Passenger Trains and 7421 freight trains and carrying nearly 24 million
passengers and 3 million Tonnes of freight traffic daily. It is the back
bone for supply of essential commodities to the masses of this country.
Indian Railways is doing great service to the poorest of the poor in
the country with reasonable fares from one end to the other end of this
country.
The Government’s decision to set up dedicated Freight Corridors and
Bullet Trains under FDI is causing a lot of anxiety among the Railwaymen
as the Railways will lose its entity as carrier of the poorest of the
poor. The recent decision of introduction of Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra
(YTSK) under PPP is a wrong step and it will lead to malpractices in
the Reservation System.
It is a proven fact, that, dependency on the Foreign Capital is the
prime cause for the South East Asian Economic Crisis in the year 1997,
when the workers and their families in these countries were affected
badly.
Government’s decision in the year 1991 to open the economy completely
to outside market did not yield any result. Because of Government of
India’s contribution, no bad effect was felt on Indian Railways whereas
the other countries suffered huge economic crisis in the year 2008.
In view of the above, your kind self is requested to advise the
Government to withdraw the 100% FDI and PPP decision on Indian Railways
and save the Railways and Save the Nation.
2. EXEMPTION OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES FROM OPERATION OF THE NEW PENSION SCHEME W.E.F.1-1-2004.
Indian Railways, on the orders of the Government of India have
introduced New Pension Scheme for all its workforce appointed on or
after 1-1-2004. The New Pension Scheme has withdrawn the social security
cover given to the Railway employees which was in vogue prior to
1-1-2004 under Railway Service (Pension) Rules 1993.
The Defence Forces as well as Paramilitary forces under Ministry of
Home Affairs have been kept out of the purview of New Pension Scheme
introduced w.e.f. 1-1-2004 and they are continued Old Pension Scheme. On
the request of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, the then Hon’ble
Minister for Railways, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Shri
P.Chidambaram, the then Hon’ble Minister of Finance on 29-3-2014 for
exemption to Railway employees from operation of NPS and take necessary
approval from the Cabinet and communicate the same to the Railwaymen. He
pleaded for exemption from NPS for the Railway employees on
consideration of special, riskier and onerous nature of duties which are
resulting in heavy death toll among Railway employees on duty.
So far, no decision is taken by the Ministry of Finance and the matter is still pending with the Ministry of Finance.
Your kind self is therefore requested to apprise the present Hon’ble
Minister of Finance and take up the issue in the Cabinet and secure
exemption for the Railway employees from the purview of New Pension
Scheme w.e.f. 1-1-2004, duly bringing them under old Pension Scheme.
3. FILLING UP OF VACANCIES IN THE GROUP’C’ & GROUP ‘D’ CATEGORIES BY LOCAL CANDIDATES THROUGH RRBs / RRCs.
At present, as per the policy laid down by the Government of India,
any Indian National can apply for the Central Government Jobs
irrespective of his being resident of any state, which rule is causing
unrest among the unemployed youth of a particular area, as they are not
able to get employment in their local area/state. Article 16(1) of the
Constitution of India provides for equal opportunity for employment
/recruitment to all citizens of India.
Due to lakhs of applications received for filling up of vacancies on
Indian Railways, it is becoming very difficult for the RRBs / RRCs to
fill up the vacancies in time and nearly 2 lakhs vacancies exist at any
time on Indian Railways.
To avoid hardship in filling up of the vacancies and also to provide
job opportunities for the local unemployed youth, you are requested to
take appropriate action and issue instructions to fill up the vacancies
from the unemployed youth belonging to the particular states which are
in the jurisdiction of the particular zone.
4. NON REDRESSAL OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS
The problems of Railwaymen like Filling up of vacancies, Creation of
additional posts to commensurate with the additional work load arisen
out of introduction of New Trains, New Lines, Electrification, Opening
of New Electric Locosheds/Diesel sheds/Workshops, Removal of anomalies
arisen out of implementation of VI CPC recommendations, Problems created
in implementation of MACP Scheme, LARSGESS, Demand of recruitment of
wards of Railwaymen, Grievances of Loco and Traffic Running Staff,
Operating Staff, Commercial, ECRCs and Ticket Checking staff, Technical
and Artisan staff, C&W Staff, Electrical Staff, A.C.Staff, P.Way
staff, Staff of Bridge and Works in Civil Engineering Department, Signal
and Telecommunication Staff, Medical and Paramedical staff, Health and
Sanitary staff, Stores Department Staff, Ministerial Staff, Accounts
Staff, Drawing Staff, Stenographers, EDP Staff, Rajbhasha Staff,
Absorption of Quasi Administrative Staff in railways, Engagement of
Course Completed Act Apprentices in the Railways etc. are pending with
the Railway Ministry for redressal.
Even though several rounds of discussions were held with the Railway
Board by the All India Railwaymen’s Federation, no tangible results are
forthcoming, which is creating unrest among the Railway employees.
You are therefore requested to impress the Full Board to hold
negotiations with AIRF in a time bound programme and redress the
grievances, so as to motivate the staff to achieve better productivity.
5. STAFF AMENITY PROGRAMMES – PROVISION OF FUNDS In
every Railway Budget, the grant given for maintenance of Railway
quarters and Staff Amenity Programmes are reduced in the name of
non-availability of sufficient funds.
Due to non-availability of funds, the repairs to the Railway
Quarters, drains, water facilities etc. are not properly carried out,
which is causing lot of hardship to the employees residing in the Staff
Quarters.
In the same manner, due to non-provision of adequate funds for
medical facilities and also appointment of regular Doctors, Paramedical
Staff, the services are getting deteriorated leading to loss of man
hours due to regular health problems to staff.
You are requested to secure adequate funds for the medical services,
Staff Quarters and Staff Amenities to help the Railwaymen and their
families. You are also requested to issue a policy decision to
regularize the Contract Paramedical Staff duly holding required
examination by the concerned departments.
6. EXTENDING THE FACILITY OF INCLUSION OF PARENTS IN THE PRIVILEGE AND POST RETIREMENT PASSES AND FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.
An assurance was given by the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways for
including the parents of the serving/retired employees in the Privilege
Passes/Post Retirement Passes and also for medical facilities.
Your kind self is requested to issue necessary instructions to the concerned officials in this regard.
7..IMPARTING TECHNICAL TRAINING TO WARDS OF RAILWAYMEN:
Railwaymen work round the clock and in all weather conditions
throughout the Country irrespective of availibility of minimum
facilities like housing, Education, Medical and Recreation. Their
Children are deprived of Good Education, Medical and
Recreation facilities due to their parents working in remote villages,
forests and border areas. They are also subjected to periodical and
administrative transfers to other stations for operational convinence at
the cost of their Children Education, medical and other facilities.
Hon”ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modiji desire that the youth of this
country should be imparted Technical Training by providing Apprentice
Training. Railways has got lot of facilities forgiving Apprentice
training in Production Units, Workshops, Electrical/Diesel sheds,
C&W Depots, Yards and Stations. Necessary orders may please
be issued to Rly.
Management to give Apprentice training to the wards of Railwaymen and absorb them in group D vacancies.
8.Appointment in Railways to Licenced Porters, Quasi-administration staff.
Previously Railways absorbed Licenced Porters and Quasi
Administration staff in Group D jobs. Similar orders may please be
issued to help the poor licenced porters & quasi administrative in
group D vacancies .
9.Provision of Super Speciality Hospital at Vijayawada , the new Capital of Residual Andhra Pradesh:
New Capital is built up for Andhra Pradesh State near Vijayawada .
Railway services will increase from Vijayawada Junction and Railway
Employees strength will also increase.
We request you to sanction in the ensuing budget Super Speciality Railway Hospital to Vijayawada.
10. Provision of POH workshop for Eletrical Locos at Kazipet:
S.C. Railway is housing large number of Eletrical Locos at ELS/LGD,
ELS/KZJ & ELS/BZA. A New Eletrical locoshed is coming up at Guntakal
. For POH Electrical Engines there is urgent need to sanction POH
workshop at Kazipet which is situated in central place of S.C. Railway.
You are requested to sanction the same in the ensuing budget.
11. Withdraw matching savings clause for creation of new posts for New trains, New lines etc.:
Railway Board imposed unrealistic clause of MATCHING SAVINGS for
creation of New Posts which are necessary for manning New Trains
introduced, New lines brought into system, New Electrification etc. Due
to non availability of funds in the saving Bank new posts required to
maintain safety and amenities to passenger services are not created..
All General Managers & Federations voiced their protest against this
clause but Railway Board insists on the same against safety and public
amenities.
You are requested to issue necessary instructions to withdraw the matching saving clause for creation of new posts.
12. Removal of ceiling on Productivity Bonus:
Railway Employees are paid PLB during DASARA FESTIVAL. Even though the
number of Days Bonus is increasing they are not getting minimum wages as
PLB due to the ceiling of Rs.3500/- for month. The minimum wage is
Rs.7000/-(Rs.5200 + Rs.1800/- GP) for Group D in Railways. They are not
paid at least minimum of Pay per month as Bonus. You are requested to
recommend Cabinet for amending Bonus Act to remove the ceiling Limit.
Thanking you,
With kind regards, Yours faithfully,
(Ch.SANKARA RAO)
GENERAL SECRETARY
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