Railway Budget 2013 – Consideration of NFIR’s proposals

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has sent some important proposals on various issues to consider to the Railway Ministry as follows…

The NFIR requests the Hon’ble Minister for Railways to kindly consider following proposals for the ensuing Railway Budget, 2013 to be presented in the Parliament in February this year:-

The Railway projects which are likely to yield less than 20% return may be considered for closure, to effect savings.

 Enlarge scope of Liberalised Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment of Safety Staff (LARSGESS) by covering safety category staff in Grade Pay Rs.2400/-, Rs.2800/- & Rs.4200/- duly adopting compassionate appointment procedure for induction of wards of railway employees of safety categories.

Separate Rest Rooms for Women employees when they proceed to out station on duty.

A women representative be provided participation in the SBF Committees at each Zonal / Divisional level.

Working women hostels for female railway employees may be provided atleast at Zonal and Divisional Headquarters.

The Railway employees working in the Diesel Shed at Krishnarajapuram, (Bengaluru) South Western Railway are facing lots of difficulties in absence of proper Railway Health Unit. A Health Unit near Diesel Shed at Krishnarajapuram, where near nearly 3000 railway population resides needs to be sanctioned.

Upgradation of Cardiology Department at Jagjivan Ram Hospital, Mumbai, is needed for ensuring quality treatment to the Railway employees(serving/retired) / RELHS beneficiaries.

Short allocation of funds for construction and maintenance of Railway Quarters is causing serious resentment among railway staff.

Adequate provision in the budget may be made for construction of staff quarters, equally for the standard of maintenance of quarters, railway colonies and approach roads.

Full implementation of the report of Joint Committee on the career growth of Track Maintainers in Railways be announced.

Regularisation of Quasi-Administrative units staff on rolls be considered — by restoration of earlier policy directives of 1973 and 1977 (Kindly refer General Secretary/NFIR’s letter No.11/1B dated 02/11/2012 and 10/12/2012).

When late Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Railways in order to bring youth of the Punjab State to mainstream, with the sanction of the Government of India, even by granting upper age relaxation had recruited Youths of Punjab State in the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. These employees have now reached the age of superannuation but unfortunately do not have 20 years qualifying service for availing benefit of post retirement complimentary passes. Railway Board however did not agree to NFIR’s proposal.

Special dispensation needs to be given to allow them post-retirement complimentary passes in this case.

The railway employees who are supplied uniforms by the Railways may be granted washing allowance.

Enhancement of per capita contribution towards Staff Benefit Fund may be considered seriously from Rs.500/- to Rs.700/- for the welfare of employees.

There is strong demand from the retired railway employees for provision of accommodation for Recreation and Library Halls (for retired railway employees) at Zonal and Divisional Headquarters.

This needs to be looked into in positive way.

At present more number of Holiday Homes are provided at Tirupathi for officers where as very small number is provided for non-gazetted staff of Indian Railways. Additional Holiday Homes for catering the needs of non-gazetted staff may be sanctioned.

NFIR vide its letter No.III/SRES/Pt.7 dated 10/11/2012 had requested Hon’ble Minister for Railways for giving attention to the maintenance and upkeep of Niligri Mountain Railway, a part of Salem Division on Southern Railway – towards its development as a tourist spot on the lines of Darjeeling Hill Railway. The proposal may kindly be given priority.

NFIR is confident that the Hon’ble Minister for Railways would give serious consideration to the above proposals to make announcement through Rail Budget — 2013.