Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra/General Secretary/AIRF Message to its
cadres explaining AIRF
Performance on negotiation with 7th Pay
Commission, efforts for getting Gratuity for NPS covered Employees
AIRF General Secretary briefs about AIRF achievements.
Shiva Gopal Mishra
(General
Secretary)
A.I.R.F
All India Railwaymen’s Federation
(Estd, 1924)
4, State Entry
Road,
New Delhi-110055
Message
All
of you are well aware that, All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) is
the most reputed and oldest federation of the Railwaymen in India;
which started its journey in the year 1924.
Prior to AIRF having
been formed in 1924; there were a number of Railway Unions existing on
different clusters of the Railways under the British Rule. It was
realized by the entities that, despite their best efforts they were
struggling to safeguard and protect the rights of the Indian Railwaymen
from discrimination and exploitation. The British Rulers were highly
discriminating the Indian Workers and their policies were highly loaded
in favour of the Anglo-Indian Workers. Thus, ignorance of the safety,
security, disparity in wages, medical facilities and uncongenial working
conditions to our fellow brothers working in different British Railway
clusters, compelled them to create a largest and strongest platform to
fight against these atrocities and to protect their interests and induce
self-respect at the working place. Collective decision and concerted
efforts paved the way for formation of prestigious, strong, massive and
meticulous organization to work for the well being of the Railwaymen
24x7x65.
All India Railwaymen’s Federation has a history and saga
of sacrifices of its workers while fighting 1960, 1968 and 1974 strikes.
Friends!
You are also aware that, recently the 92nd Annual Conference of AIRF
was held at Allahabad from 8-10 November, 2016, wherein a number of
issues related to staff grievances and demands of the Railwaymen were
deliberated and discussed and future line of action was drawn.
It
may also be appreciated that, although there are number of organizations
at the All India level, it is AIRF that stood tall for the Railwaymen’s
demands against the anti-workers policies of the government and forced
the Government of India to constitute the 7th CPC.
Dear Friends!
Though 7th CPC’s recommendations have since been announced and
implemented also, but I am personally aggrieved and pained that, the Pay
Commission and the Government ignored many genuine demands of the
Railway employees. One of our main demands was restoration of the
Old Pension
Scheme for the employees who joined on or after 01.01.2004 and the other was
Minimum Wage as Rs. 26,000 to the staff at the lowest level. In the
recommendations of the
7th CPC
both the demands were ignored. Apart from this, many other demands were
also either partly or fully ignored in the recommendations of the 7th
CPC. I have personally taken note of the demands/issues and not only
lodged our strong protest to the government, but pursued them to form
the committees to review these demands. In this context we also met a
Group of Union Ministers and apprised them of the gravity and
genuineness of our demands and got assurance from them that these would
be duly taken care of. We have also held meetings with the Cabinet
Secretary, Secretary(DoP&T), Secretary(Exp.) etc. of the Government
of India, to extract maximum benefits for all of you, but up till now
nothing fruitful has emerged.
On this occasion I would like to
congratulate all of you that, despite all odds, the long pending demands
of enhancing the limit of monthly wages for payment of
PLB from Rs.3500 to
Rs.7000
was acceded to with the consistent efforts of AIRF w.e.f 01.04.2014,
and the payment of PLB along with arrears of 2014-15 has since been made
to all the fellow Railwaymen. You may also appreciate that, the orders
for payment of Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity for all the
NPS
contributors has as well issued by the DoP&T on regular persuasions by us.
Further
to this, one of our major demands for Merger of Technician Gr. II to
Gr.I has also been acceded to by the Ministry of Railway in another way
by upgrading substantial number of posts to the grade of Sr. Technician
and Highly Skilled Technician Gr. I. It is also a landmark achievement,
but still a number of grievances and demands are yet to be resolved, as
such, the 92nd Annual Conference of
AIRF unanimously decided to hold “All
Indian Protest Day” on 14th December, 2016 throughout the Indian Railways.
Friends!
At this stage I would also like to mention that, during the last sort
span of period I was not keeping good health and remained hospitalized
also for recovery from the ailment. As of now I am feeling perfectly
well and energetic and assure you that I am for the AIRF and the cadre
only. My life is for my fellow Railwaymen; with their good wishes I am
with them.
As the year 2017 is approaching, I want to take this as
opportunity to extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you and your
families. You all are essential part to the success of our great
federation, I would like to thank you all personally for showing immense
faith and confidence.
I further like to appeal all of you to work
hard for the betterment of the Railways. So long, the organization is
strong, we are also strong. Thus, it is our prime duty to take proper
care of duties and responsibilities towards our organization, society
and to the nation.
I am sure that, all of you will give priority
to organize the Youth and Women because without them AIRF cannot be
strong. We should also keep in our mind Mission Future. I personally
assure you that, you will always find me with you in your hour of need.
Please
accept my best wishes for the New Year. I am sure that, you will work
with great gusto and motivation to take-up the future challenges.
With fraternal greetings!
Comradely yours,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General
Secretary
Source :
AIRF
