NFIR

Natiohal Federation of IndianRaihuaymen ROAD,NEWDELHI- 11O055 3, CHELMSFORD Affiliatedto : IndianNationalTradeUnionCongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF)

Dated:2010712015

No. II/34IPart.12 The Member Traffic. Railway Board, New Delhi Dear Sir, Sub:

Difficult working conditions of Control Offices of Traffic Department on Indian Railwavs - Remedialmeasures-ursed. 't<*****{.{<{.rF

The Federationwishes to bring to the kind notice of the Railway Board (MT) key areas of railway working whicty of laterhave not been receiving due attention at the apex Ievel. In this connection,NFIR desiresto statethat the backboneof the movementof traffic (both passenger& freight) on Indian Railways is the "cadre of Traffic Controllers".They are the eyes,earsand brain behind the movementof about 12000passenger,mail/express& 9000 freight trains. These Controllers,with the inadequatestrengthof about 2800 staff have been assignedthe strenuousjob of running, planning,controlling, monitoring, time-tablingof train servicesand chalking out path for new/additional services on the Indian Railways. It is needlessto state that in order to improve efficiency and to enhanceproductivity of the IR, importanceof the categoryof Controllers,which has always been tieated as a neglected category,cannot be underminedfurther in the presentenvironment of introduction of new technologiesaimedto improve safetyand smoothfunctioningof the system. Based on the reports received by the Federation,following suggestionsare made to improvethe working conditionsof this vital categoryto enhanceefficiency and productivity:(a)

Designatedstaff needto be postedin the Control Offices: It has beenreportedthat non-designatedstaff belongingto different categorieswho do not possessadequateskills of the job in the Control Offices are posted without subjecting them through selectionand imparting training. Posting of medically de-categorisedstaff in Control cadre by mis-interpretation of the rules containedin the Medical manual: Complaintshave beenreceivedthat the medically de-categorisedstaff who are unable to bear the stressof Control working are posted by the ZonallDlrsional authoritiesin the Control Offices. These staff are reluctantto work on the Boards in the Control Offices and alwaysseeklighterjobs which is not availablethere. (b)

This gives additional workload to the designated Controllers and makes them vulnerableto seriousdiseasesthat too at the cost ofpassengers'safety. Contd.Page...2

Phone: 011'23343305, 65027299, Rly.030-22283, 22626,Fax: 011-23744013, Rly.22382,Telegram: RATLMAZDOR E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected], Website: www.nfirindia.org

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Leave Reserve"hage in the ZoneslDivisions: Though instructionsexist to provide Leave Reservebetween l8 to 30% in the Safety categorieson Zonal Railways including the categoryof Controllers, it is, sadto mention that no Tonal Railway has ensured 30% Leave R..r.-. in this category. This is causing continuousshortagebesidesadditionalworkload on the existing Contiollrs. Incorrect classificationof controllers as 'Continuous,. Railway Board may kindly recollect that the Miabhoy Tribunal award had clearly statedthat by virtue of the work, the job of a SectionController is strenuous and henceneeds to be classifiedas'lntensive'. Federationis disappointedto state that though46 yearshave passed,eventoday on somecontrol Boardsin theDivisions,'continuous'ro-ster is still being continued. This is really inhuman. (d)

Reportsreceived also reveal that the Controllersworking on the Control Boards are made to operatethe boards as 'Continuous' though having classification 'Intensive, of in violation of HOER provisions by the Officers of O-peratingDepartment. This illegal practice shouldbe stopped. (e)

Non-grant of a Calendar day rest to the Controllers: On about 75o/oof the Divisions on Indian Railways, Controllers working on control boardsare utilized 365 days in a year are not provided a calendarday mandatoryrest. 1nd Instructionsneedto be issuedto utilize Controllers for 40 hours in a week duly grantingthem a weeklyrestof full calendarday. (0

Increasedworkload of Chief Controller/Punctuality,Coaching & Goods: Due to manifold increasein the traffic (both passengeiand freighl), the work of Chief Controllers,Punctuality,Coaching& Goods had gone up to out of pr6portion. TheseChief Controllers,due to absenceof support staff like Trains Clerk on account of surrenderof posts, have to work every day for 10-11 hours to complete their job and to complete the ancillary clerical jobs. This causesset back to the main jobs of bontrollers for planning, running and monitoring the traffic. In order to have better coordination,planning and improving the working, one Chief Controllershouldbe exclusivelyprovidedfoi taking,compilinganJrelaying positionsand a separateChief Controller for planning,controlling und rnonitoringin each.oit.ot office shouldbe provided. (g)

Need for training/road learning of the section before taking charge as Section Controller of the particular section: Presently,no training & road learningis providedto the Section Controlleron the particular route/boardfor smooth movement and running of traffic apart from maintaining punctuality effectively. The practice of posting the SJction Controller without thorough knowledgeof rbute.and foot plating causesseriousproblems in managing - and running the services.Hencepre-inductiontraining/roadlearningnleds to be organised. Contd.Page...3

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Refresher Courses for Controllers: It has been reported that the Controllers are not being sent for periodical training/refreshercourseson many Divisions with the result they are unable to updatetheir knowledgematchingwith the requirements. (D

StressManagement course: The duties and responsibilitiesof the Section Controller/ChiefController involve highestlevel of stresswhich put their lives in dangerand their families in jeopardy. A comprehensivecourseon 'StressManagement'needsto be drawn for imparting the samefor achievingbestresults. Paperlessworking: Though paperlessworking has been advocatedfor a long time, yet all the officers in the Division/Head Quarters expects return positions from the control office. For the said purposethe controllershave to spendhours in collecting and compiling the position in each shift from the yards, depots, stations,Diesel/ElectricLoco Sheds and feed them into the computer.The position availablein the computeris not accessedby the officers. Due to this, preciousduty time of the controller is lost in compiling the position and the statistics. CI)

It is therefore,suggestedthat all positionsdemandedby the officers in hard copiesor orally shouldbe discontinuedand only line position be madeavailable. (k)

Upgradation and modernisationof Control offices: Some Control offices of IR on some Zones are in very precariouscondition and they require upgradationand modernisationsuch as modern communication systems,big and spaciousBoards,Soundproof cabinsfor betterand effectiveControllins. (l)

Faulty programming of COA: The faulty programmingof COA has increasedthe work burden of Controllersrather than decreasingit. The programming is done to suit the person viewing the charts and not facilitatethe personworking on them. This suits thosewho do not underitandthe traditional chartingbut has increasedthe workload of Controllerswho are actually working on it. NFIR suggeststhat an officer from Operating Department who has knowledge of Computer Programming and could resolve the problems arising out of COA should be nominated. Federationhoposthat the Railway Board while dealing with the above issueswould also discussthe samewith the NFIR on a mutually agreeddate.Federationawaits for positive responsefrom the Railway Board. Yours faithful

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(Dr. M. Raghavaiahf ' General Secretary

Copy to the Addl: Member (Traffic), Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action. Copy to the ExecutiveDirector/IR, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action. Copy to GeneralSecretariesof Zonal Unions of NFIR. MediaCentre,NFIR. Copy to PNM agendafile (108).