Settlement of long pending genuine demands of the Railwaymen

D.O.No.AIRF/24 Dated: January 6, 2013 Respected Shri Bansal Ji, Sub: Settlement of long pending genuine demands of the Railwaymen. I take this opportunity to draw your kind attention towards my earlier communications vide D.O. letter No.AIRF/24(C) dated 23rd November, 2012, seeking your personal intervention for settlement of long pending genuine major demands of the Railwaymen. I feel it appropriate to remind your good-self that no fruitful results have yet evolved on the following major demands despite regular persuasions by the undersigned:- 1. Dispensation of Written Test from LARSGESS As already explained, this scheme came into existence after sustained persuasions by All India Railwaymen’s Federation, initially in the name of Safety Related Voluntary Retirement Scheme, covering only two categories of staff, i.e. Loco Pilot and Trackmen and subsequently further liberalized, bringing all safety categories of staff working in GP Rs.1800 and 1900 under the purview of this scheme after sustained persuasions by the AIRF. The wards of the Railway employees who are to be given appointment under this scheme were being subjected to a very tough Physical Efficiency Test and Written Examination, for which we had demanded to dispense with the same. Though PET has been done away from LARSGESS, nevertheless, despite clear assurance given by the then Minister for Railways on 6th September, 2012 while inaugurating Late Com. J.P. Chaubey Memorial Library in AIRF Office Complex, New Delhi, Written Test is yet to be dispensed with. We are still of the firm opinion that appointment of the wards of the Railwaymen under this scheme should be at par with compassionate ground appointment, appointment of children of land loosers, wherein no PET and Written Test is prescribed. It would, therefore, be quite appropriate that orders to dispense with Written Test in LARSGESS are issued without further loss of time as per commitment of the then Minister for Railways. 2. Implementation of Cadre Restructuring of various categories of Railwaymen After implementation of recommendations of VI CPC report, certain grades have been merged, replacing them by single grade pay as also some imbalances in the cadre have also taken place on this account. With a view to ensure further advancement/promotion of the staff, cadre restructuring of a number of categories was the need of the hour and in a number of departments under Government of India, this process has since been completed and implemented. In the Ministry of Railways also three meetings of Cadre Restructuring Committee, constituted to recommend upgradation of various categories of staff, were held during the past after implementation of VI CPC report, wherein unanimous agreements have been arrived to restructure the cadre of various categories of staff in Railways with a view to provide advancement prospects to them. It is a matter serious concern that despite regular persuasions by the AIRF, unanimously agreed recommendations of Cadre Restructuring Committee, in the meetings mentioned above, have not been implemented so far causing deep sense of discontentment and serious resentment among the Railwaymen. It would, therefore, be highly appreciated if these recommendations of the Cadre Restructuring Committee are implemented at the earliest to facilitate the staff awaiting promotion. 3. Review of implementation of unanimous recommendations of the Joint Committee on Package and Career Progression of Trackmen It may be recalled that a Joint Committee was constituted by the Railway Board to recommend some Package and Career Progression for the vulnerable category of the Trackmen who are engaged in maintenance of tracks in very hard working conditions and is a deprived category as well. The unanimous recommendations of this Joint Committee were long back submitted to the Railway Board on 28.06.2011 and it took more than one year to implement the same. It is further disheartening that while implementing recommendations of the said committee, the Career Progression has envisaged therein was diluted and the percentage of higher grade was unilaterally reduced by the Railway Board. The Trackmen were seriously agitated on this account and there were countrywide protests against this arbitrary action of the Ministry of Railways. AIRF is pursuing the Railway Board from the day one to implement these unanimous recommendations of this committee in toto I would, therefore, request your personal intervention in the matter so that the unanimous recommendations of the said committee are implemented in letter and spirit, facilitating advancement to this ever neglected category of the staff. 4. Upgradation of 15% apex level Group `C’ supervisory post to Group `B’ and allotment of GP Rs.4800 in place of Rs.4600 to Sr. Supervisors There has been a negotiated settlement between the Ministry of Railways and AIRF to upgrade 15% apex level Group `C’ supervisory posts to Group `B’ as also to provide Grade Pay Rs.4800 in place of Grade Pay Rs.4600 to Sr. Supervisors. Ironically enough, these issues are still hanging fire, with the result that, the supervisory staff, particularly those who are engaged in upkeep and maintenance of all kinds of rolling stock, modernized signalling system, upgraded tracks etc., are very much frustrated and there is serious resentment among them on this account. It would, therefore, be in the fitness of the things that 15% Group `C’ posts of Sr. Supervisors are upgraded to Group `B’ and the other Sr. Supervisors are placed in Grade Pay of Rs.4800 in lieu of Grade Pay of Rs.4600, as already agreed, without any further delay so as to provide motivation and stimulation to this important category of staff. 5. Grievances of the Running Staff We all know that our Running Staff, both Loco & Traffic, are engaged in running the trains even in odd weather conditions to keep the wheel of the Railway moving round the clock throughout the year. The VI CPC unfortunately failed to give them a fair-deal. Their genuine grievances, viz. allotment of higher pay scale, payment of arrears of Running Allowance w.e.f. 1.1.2006, improvement in ALK, 25% enhancement in their mileage, allotment of GP Rs.4600, reduction in duty hours, provision of Additional Allowance to Running Staff working on goods trains, improvement in the conditions of the Running Rooms, etc. etc. are still pending for quite some time, as a result of which, this vulnerable category of staff is seriously agitated. Since this matter directly relates to safe, efficient and punctual train operation, I would seek your personal intervention in the matter so that above mentioned long pending genuine demands of the Running Staff are resolved without further delay. I hope, the above-mentioned issues shall be given due attention to resolve them within a shortest time spell, as these are causing serious discontentment and avoidable resentment among the Railwaymen. With kind regards! Sincerely yours, (Shiva Gopal Mishra) Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal Ji, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Ministry of Railways, (Government of India), Rail Bhawan New Delhi Copy to: General Secretaries, all affiliated unions – for information.