High Powered Committee would be appointed to review the duty hours of running staff : AIRF PNM

Shri Rakhal Das Gupta,

Working President/AIRF

raised following items in AIRF PNM

Sri Das Gupta raised the question of functioning of the Permanent Negotiating Machinery. In that he cited an example how the matters are dealt with. Item No. 20/2006 of last PNM meeting held with the Railway Board was treated as closed on the assurance that due action would be taken. Unfortunately no action has yet been taken after lapse of 12 months and this also did not appear in the ATS also. He requested that action in this regard may please be taken without any further loss of time.
Sri Das Gupta referred that in the wake of Strike Negotiation during January & February, 2006, it was agreed that a High Powered Committee would be appointed to review the duty hours of running staff as well as other safety categories of staff. But the High Powered committee has not yet been appointed. Even the existing provisions of HOER are being flouted. Staff specially the Running staff are being compelled to work beyond specified hours. The duty hours of continuous workers are being de-classified from continuous to EI without any job analysis.

Sri Das Gupta mentioned that violating Addl. Member, Railway Board‟s D. O. letter of 26.04.06 manned posts, safety posts, promotional posts are being surrendered and violating the provisions of Contract labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, perennial nature of jobs, even manned posts are outsourced declaring staff surplus. He said while there has been increase in the number of Gr. „A‟, posts of Gr. „C‟ & „D‟ are being surrendered indiscriminately.
He said that additional posts of additional work load should be created and vacancies should be filled up.
Sri Das Gupta pointed out that staff working in Road Side stations and Gang huts are being denied medical facilities. Large number of posts of Doctors and Paramedical staff are lying vacant. He also mentioned that there has been abnormal delay in the matter of reimbursement of medical expenses. He said that whenever bills are approved by the Medical Department, the Accounts department raised uncharitable objections even on medical matters. He demanded that a joint meeting be held with FC, Member Staff & DG/RHS and the AIRF be held to sort out the matter.
Sri Das Gupta raised a serious concerned about abnormal delay in the matter of setting up of Medical Board and acceptance of it‟s report. He cited example that in N. F. Railway, one lady worker was declared 100% blind by the Medical Board as well as by Sankar Dev Netralaya, Guwahati where the case was referred by the Railway and after that also the lady was sent to Bicular Hospital, Central Railway, where also she was declared 100% blind. He mentioned in such process staff are running LWP for months together causing untold economic sufferings. He requested the Railway Board to streamline the matter so that the delay and harassment is eliminated.
Sri Das Gupta said that recognition of Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) should continue and requested for granting of recognition of Lower Assam Hospital & Research Institute, Bongaigaon for medical treatment.
Sri Das Gupta said that there has been abnormal delay in the matter of alternative appointment to the medically de-categorised surplus staff categorised C-2 medical classification as almost all such posts have been declared as redundant.
He also said that physically challenged wards of Railway employees waiting for Compassionate Ground appointment have been facing serious difficulties in the matter of appointment.
Sri Das Gupta mentioned that „Confidential Report‟ has since been changed to „Personal Appraisal Report‟ by the DOPT but the same order has not been adopted in the Railways.
Sri Das Gupta pointed out that the Railway Board vide their letter No.PC - V/2004/ACP/1 dated 31.03.04 have issued order that 50% CLCPC period should be counted as service for the purpose of ACP but the same order has been reversed vide Railway Board‟s letter No. PC-V/2009/ACP/2 dated 10.06.09. He stated that the Railway Board‟s order of 31.3.04 should be restored.