NFIR Proposes for consideration in the Rail Budget 2015-16

NFIR Proposes for consideration in the Rail Budget 2015-16

National Federation of Indian Railway men(NFIR) proposes for consideration in the Rail Budget 2015-16 as Safety - Report of High Level Safety Review Committee headed by Dr. Anil Kakodkar.

The Hon’ble Railway Minister may kindly consider the report of HLSRC headed by Dr.Anil Kakodkar for taking decisions as mentioned below:

a) The powers of General Managers and DRMs need to be enhanced to three times for sanction of Works. M&P items including out of turn basis works.

b) Adequate funds may be allotted for augmentation of line capacity, enhancement of through out for speedy movement of freight and passenger carrying trains.

c) New trains should only be announced when adequate capacity of maintenance, platforms and staff i.e.Loco/Traffic crew, ticketing checking, AC and C&W are made available.

d) Recruitment policy needs review for ensuring manning of all posts in general and safety posts in particular in consultation with the Federations as the present system has proved to be counter-productive and thousands of vacancies remained unfilled in safety categories.

e) Adequate funds should be allotted to Zonal and Divisional training institutes for imparting quality training/re-fresher courses.

f) Training Allowance equal to 30% of Pay to Trainers in all training institutes as already agreed to should be sanctioned duly securing approval of the Government.

2. Duty Hours of Staff — (Report of the High Power Committee (R&S) headed by Sh D.P.Tripathi)

Hon’ble Railway Minister is requested to consider the report of the High Power Committee(R&S) and announce decision on the following.

(a) Running staff should be served fully subsidized meals and eatables timely as per the system in vogue in the past.

(b) Duty hours of safety category staff presently classified as “Essentially Intermittent”, more particularly Gate Keepers should be reduced to 48 hours per week.

(c) Running Rooms should be upgraded to 3-Star level to facilitate running staff to avail adequate rest.

(d) Special sanction may be accorded for the construction of ne Running Room at Mumbai Central (Western Railway) as per the proposal sent by General Manager/Western Railway.

(e) For ensuring safety as well saving the lives of Track Maintainers. Advance Warning System for alerting the staff while working on tracks, be introduced.

3. Improvement of efficiency in Railway:

a) Unviable railway projects may be shelved and those projects where expected rate of return is about 23% be sanctioned for execution.

b) A policy decision may be taken that the cost of construction and maintenance of new hues should be shared by the respective State Governments.

c) Priority be given for provision of additional platforms to avoid detention to trains at signalise.

d) Ticket fares may be hiked in view of increase in costs of electricity, diesel, raw material etc.

e) Payment of dividend to the Central Government need to be dispensed with as no other infrastructure ministry is paying the same. This amount can be diverted for developmental activities on the Indian Railways.

f) As decided by the Hon’ble MR in the meeting held on 18th December 2014 with both the Employees’

Federations, a Standing Committee to be chaired by CR13/Member Staff may be constituted to discuss all pending issues of railway employees besides issues relating to Railways efficiency, productivity and future plans.

g) Bed rolls supply and AC staff escorting trains:

In view of safety and security of travelling public and also to prevent untoward incidents on running trains, the supply of bed rolls should be entrusted to the Coach Attendants while running maintenance of AC coaches needs to be done departmentally. The out sourcing of these activities has jeopardised the safety of the system as well the travelling public.

A policy announcement may be made for ensuring bed roll supply and AC coaches maintenance/attendance on running trains done departmentally.

4. Induction of skills in Railways

(a)Course completed Act Apprentices may be inducted on completion of training against Safety and Technical

(b)Staff working in Quasi-Administrative Units/Offices may be absorbed in GP Rs.1800 (PB-I) against vacancies in terms of policy laid down in 1973 and 1997 alert consultation with the Federations, The old policy needs to be restored. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that this subject has been discussed in the DC/JCM forum by the Federations with no finality yet.

(c)The superannuation age of Railway Doctors needs to be extended to 62 years for meeting the present and future shortage in order to provide proper health care facility to railway employees and their families. Hon’ble MR may take the matter to Union Cabinet.

5.Staff Welfare:

a)Railways may be exempted from New Pension Scheme. The proposal to this effect sent by Hon’ble MR on 29th March 2014 may be got approved by the Union Government. Hon’ble MR may consider making the announcement

b)Adequate funds should be allotted for construction of new Railway Quarters as well as satisfactory maintenance of existing Railway Quarters & Colonies

c)Each Zonal Railway may be permitted to construct/removate at least 6 Railway Institutes/Community Halls — Adequate funds may be allotted for the said purpose

d)At Tirupati (South Central Railway) a community hall of one thousand people capacity may be sanctioned,

e)At Tirupati and Tirumala, best Holiday Homes have been provided for Officers whereas for staff the Holiday Home is of sub-standard. This needs improvement on priority basis.

f)Separate Rest Rooms may be constructed for women Railway employees at Head Quarters(Zonal & Division) as well at important and major stations,

g)There is strong demand from railway employees working in the Diesel Shed at Krishrmarajapurarn (Hengalurti)

South Western Railway for provision of a Health Unit. Adequate justification exists for sanctioning Health Unit to take care of medical needs of Railway employees (serving & retired) and their families. This may be sanctioned.

h) Powers for recognising corporate hospitals for referral purposes should be delegated to the GMs in view of the fact that the present system is causing abnormal delays.

j) Grant of compassionate appointment to the widows/wards of deceased employees of IRCA, Indian Railways Conference Association (IRCA) is Railway Organisation working under the control of the Railway Board. The General Manager/Northern Railway is the President of IRCA and has been looking after the affairs of the Organisation with tile Support of a JAGISG Grade Railway Officers etc. for effective functioning of the organization, The payment of salary, pension etc to the officers and staff of the Organization is arranged by the Northern Railway. 

The Officers/Staff of IRCA are provided for Railway passes and other privileges similar to Railway staff and are Railway Over the past few years a few employees of IRCA have expired. Their widows/wards have been put to severe hardship due to non-grant of compassionate appointment. Federation has brought these cases to the notice of Railway Board a number of times but positive instructions on the issue have not been issued so far and the bereaved families have been suffering for want of livelihood.

NFIR requests to approve compassionate appointment to the widows/wards of deceased IRCA staff:

j) Provision of Mobile Medical Vans at roadside stations and in remote places:

Railway employees performing duties at remote locations and at places where Railway Health Units are not available, have been facing difficulties for getting medical treatment for them and their family members. Trials carried out for providing medical assistance through Mobile Medical Vans have been proved successful. hence,more Mobile Medical Vans need to be provided for providing adequate medical assistance to the Staff’ working at road side stations and remote places.

k) Free medical treatment to the dependent parents of the Railway employees (serving & retired).

NFIR is confident that the proposals listed above will be considered by the Hon’ble MR through the Rail Budget 2015-16 to be presented on the floor of the Parliament.