Important demands of AIRF which need to be included in the Rail Budget 2011-2012

A.I.R.F.
All India Railwaymen's Federation

D.O.No.AIRF/60

Dated Feb 1 2011

Respected Mamata Di,

Sub: Some of the important demands of AIRF which need to be included in the Rail Budget 2011-2012

We are very much thankful to you that you have always taken-up the issues of AIRF through Rail Budget as well as administrative orders in favour of Railway employees, their children and Rail users.

Recently, orders on New Pass Rules have created history and have given lots of motivation to the Railwaymen as well as satisfaction to their families.

In your last Rail Budget, you had made lots of emphasis for the education of children of Railway employees by establishing Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Technical Institutes, Engineering Colleges, Nursing Schools, Medical Colleges etc. We have observed that implementation of these schemes has been much slower and not keeping the pace according to your desire to implement the projects quickly. For better implementation and quick execution of these projects as well as to keep proper and continuous monitoring, a Railway Education Board should be set up on the lines of RRB, which should have some autonomous powers for implementation, execution, training etc.

As we have already mentioned and congratulated you for a bold decision for giving facility of one pass to Railway employees working in GP Rs.1800, 1900, 2000 and 2400, making them entitlement to travel in AC 3-Tier along with their families.

Railwaymen have always had a pinch in their heart that they can not take their old aged parents on their Privilege Passes. Name of their mother is included in their Pass after expiry of father. This erroneous fact is very shocking and now the Railwaymen have a ray of hope from you that they can take their father and mother on their Privilege Passes. We know that this decision can only be possible only from you.

We also compliment you for the decision, taken for the employment of the wards of Railway employees on their seeking voluntary retirement under new name Safety Related Retirement Scheme - LARSGESS for the employees working in GP Rs.1800 of Safety Categories. This scheme has become so popular among the Railwaymen, that many a staff, who feel that they are not able to perform well, have sought voluntary retirement. Undoubtedly, this will facilitate the Railways in improving the productivity and efficiency because of the induction of the young blood in the Railways. At the same time, this scheme needs expansion to higher grade pay because it has been observed that there are many employees working in higher grade pay are also not performing well and are eager to take voluntary retirement. Extension of this scheme will definitely give sense of security to Railwaymen because of employment to their wards. On the one hand, it will improve productivity and efficiency of the Railways, on the other hand, it will reduce financial burden on the Railways to a great extent because newly appointed wards of Railway employees will be drawing much less salary than their parents.

We know that you have expressed concern about the dilapidated condition of Railway quarters and poor upkeep of Railway Colonies and staff quarters, we have a suggestion that, if Maintenance Allowance for whitewash and petty repairs is provided to the allottees of Railway quarters, it will give them lots of satisfaction and lot of money, which is really wasted on the name of maintenance, can also be saved.

With kind regards!

Your's sincerely
s/d
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary

Source: AIRF