NFIR

National Federation of IndianRailwaymen 3, CHEI-MSFORD ROAD,NEWDELHI- 110055 Affitiated to : IndianNationalTradeUnionGongress(INTUC) lnternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) No. IV/Budget/Part1

Dated:l3'n Jan2015

ShriArun Jaitley, Hon'bleMinisterof Finance, North Block, New Delhi Sir.

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through General Budget 2015-16 for generating satisfaction among over 35 lakhs Central Government employeesincluding13 lakh Railwayemployees. L 2.

Mergerof DearnessAllowance with pay with effectfrom 01 -01-2014. Interim relief to CentralGovernmentemployees,

3.

Revisedpay structurebe given effect from January1,2014 as the 7thCentralPay Commission hasbeenmandated to give its reportwithin l8 monthsi.e. by August,2015.

4.

Railway employeesbe exemptedfrom New PensionScheme(NPS) as alreadyrecommended by RailwayMinistry.

5.

No privatisation,no FDI and PPPin Railways,Defence,postalservices. Removalof salarycalculationceiling for paymentof ProductivityLinked Bonus (pLB).

6. 7.

Group InsuranceSchemebe reviewed for revising the existing rates of Rs. 30, 60 & 120 respectively to l0 times.

8.

Annual incomeupto Rs. 5 lakhsmay be exemptedfrom the purview of IncomeTax. For seniorcitizens.exemptionupto Rs. 7.5 lakhsmay be allowed and for personsabovethe age of 75 yearsit shouldbe Rs l0 lakhs. TransportAllowance may be exemptedfrom the purview of IncomeTax.

9. 10. 11. 12.

,

Fixed Medical Allowance needsto be enhancedto Rs. 1000/-p.m. The Modified AssuredCareer ProgressionScheme(MACPS) be made applicableto the Teachersand Lecturersof CentralGovernmentEducationalInstitutions. Small scalesavingsschemeunder Postaland other Governmentalagenciesbe liberalizedand madepopularby increasinginvestmentlimit to Rs. 50 lakhsper annurrr.

Federationis confidentthat the Hon'ble FinanceMinister would qive seriousconsiderationto the aboveproposalsand mal
Copy to the Secretary,Ministry of Finance,Governmentof India,Nofth Block, New Delhi. Copy to the Secretary(Personnel),DoP&T, North Block, New Delhi. u-.Copy to the Affiliated Unions of NFIR: Copy to Media Centre,A.,lFIR.

Phone:011-23343305,65027299;Bly. 030-22289,22626, Fax:011-29744019,Rly.22382, Tetegram:RATLMAZDOR E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected], Website: www.nfirindia.orq

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I

NFIR

of IndianRailwaymen Federation National ROAD,NEWDELHI- 11O055 3, CHELMSFORD Affiliated to : IndianNationalTradeUnionCongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) Dated: l3tr'January20 I 5

No. IV/BUDGET/Part.ll Shri Suresh Prabhu, H o n ' b l eM i n i s t e rf o r R a i l w a y s , Rail Bhavan, RaisinaRoad, New Delhi RespectedSir, Sub:

R a i l B u d g e t 2 0 1 5 - 1 6- N l ' l R ' s p r o p o s a l sf o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n- r e g .

The NFIR requeststhe Hon'ble Minister fbr Railways to kindly consider following for in the ensuingRail Budgetfor the year 2015-16makingthe Budgetannouncements Safetv - Report of High Level Safety Review Committee headedby Dr. Anil Kakodkar.

I.

The Hon'ble Railway Minister rnay kindly consider the report of HLSRC headed by Dr. Anil Kakodkarfor taking decisionsas trrentionedbelow:The powers of General Managers and DRMs need to be enhancedto three times for sanction of Works, M&P iternsinclLrdingout of turn basisworks. Adequate funds may be allottecl for augmentation of line capacity, enhancement of throughpr-rtfor speedymovellent of freight and passengercarrying trains. New trains should only be announced when adequate capacity of maintenance, platforms and staff i.e. Loco/Traffic crew, ticketing checking, AC and c&w are

a) b) c)

r n a d ea v a i l a b l e . Recruitment policy needs review for ensuring manning of all posts in general and safetypostsin particularin consultationwith the Federationsas the presentsysternhasproved and thousandsofvacanciesremainedunfilled in safetycategories. to be counter-productive Adequate funds should be allotted to Zonal and Divisional training institutes for imparling quality traini ng/re-training/refreshercourses. Training Allowance equal to 30% of Pay to Trainers in all training institr-rtesas alreadyagreedto shouldbe sanctionedduly securingapprovalof the Government.

d)

e) f)

Duty Hoursofstaff Sh DP Tripathi

Z.

-

Repofi of the High

Power Committee (R&S)

headed by

Ho1'ble Railway Minister is requestedto considerthe report of the High Power Committee (R&S) and announcedecisionson the following:-

timelyasperthesystemin mealsandeatables Runningstaffshouldbe servedfully subsidized voguein the past. Duty hours of safetycategorystaff presentlyclassifiedas "EssentiallyIntermittent",more

(a.)

(b) (c) (,1) (e)_

'

Gate Keepersshouldbe reducedto 48 hoursper week. particr-rlarly RunningRooms should be upgradedto 3-Starlevel to facilitaterunning staff to avail adequate rest. Special sanction may be accorded for the construction of new Running Roorn at Mumbai Central (Western Railway) as per the proposalsent b1,General Manager/WesternRailway. For ensuringsafety as well savingthe lives of Track Maintainers,Advance Warning System for alertingthe staff while working on tracks'be introduced Contd...2

Telegram: RAILMAZDOR R|y.22382, phone: 011-23343305, Fax: 011-23744013, Rly.030-22289,22626, 65027299, website: www.nfirindia.org [email protected], E-mail: [email protected];

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il2il 3.

lmprovement of efficiency in Railways: It is requestedthat:

a) b) c) d) e)

r)

Unviable railway projects may be shelved and those projects where expectedrate of return is abotrt23%obe sanctionedfor execution. A policy decision may be taken that the cost of constructionand maintenanceof new lines shouldbe sharedby the respectiveStateGovernments. Priority be given for provisionof additionalplatformsto avoid detentionto trains at signals. Ticket faresrnay be hiked in view of increasein costsof electricity,diesel,raw materialetc. Payment of dividend to the Central Government need to be dispensed with as no other infrastructure ministry is paying the same. This amount can be diverted for developmental

l"itt::;JJ;1",iflTffi'"-flii'in themeeting herd onr8,,'December 2014 withboth the Employees' Federations,a Standing Cornmitteeto be chaired by CRB/Member Staff may be constitutedto discuss all pending issuesof railway employees besides issuesrelating to Railwaysefficiency,productivityand future plans.

g)

Bed rolls supply and AC staff escortingtrains: ln view of safety and secr-rrity of travelling public and also to prevent untowardincidentson running trains, the supply of bed rolls should be entrustedto the Coach Attendantswhile running lnaintenanceol AC coaches needsto be done departrnentally. The outsourcing of theseactivitieshasjeopardisedthe safetyofthe systeuras well the travelling public. A policy announcementmay be made for ensuring bed roll supply and AC coaches on running trains done deparlmentally. maintenance/attendance,

4.

Induction of skills in Railways

(a)

CoursecornpletedAct Apprenticesmay be inductedon completionof training againstSafety a n dT e c h n i c a cl a t e g o r yv a c a n c i e s . Staff working in Quasi-AdministrativeUnits/Officesmay be absorbedin GP Rs. 1800(PB-1) againstvacanciesin terms of policy laid down in 1913 and 1991 after consultationwith the Federations.The old policy needsto be restored. lncidentally,it may be mentionedthat this subject has been discussedin the DC/JCM forum by the Federationswith no finality yet. The superannuation age of Railway Doctorsneedsto be extendedto 62 yearsfor rneetingthe present and future shortage in order to provide proper health care facility to railway employeesand their farnilies.Hon'ble MR may take the matterto Union Cabinet.

(b)

(c)

5. a)

b) c) d) e) 0

Staff Welfare Railways may be exempted from New Pension Scheme. The proposal to this effect sent by Hon'ble MR on 29"' March 2014 nay be got approvedby the Union Government. Hon'ble through Budgetproposal. MR may considerrnakingthe announcement construction Adequate firnds should be allotted for of new Railway Quarters as well as existing & Railway Qr-rarlers Colonies satisfactorymaintenanceof " Each Zonal Railway may be permitted to construct/renovateat least 6 Railway Institutes/CornrnunityHalls - Adequatefunds rnay be allotted for the said purpose, At TirLrpati(South Central Railway) a community hall of one thousand people capacity rnay be sanctioned, At Tirupati and Tirurnala, best Holiday Homes have beenprovided for Officers whereas for staff the Holiday Home is of sub-standard.This needsimprovernenton priority basis. SeparateRest Rooms may be constructedfor women Railway employees at Head Quatlers (Zonal & Division) as well at irnportantand major stations,

Contd...3

I

ol

h)

Thgre is strong demand from ,uit*uy" emproyees working in the Diesel Shed ar Krishnarajapuram (Bengaluru) South western Railway for piovision of a Health Unit. Adequatejustification exists for sanctioningHealth Unit to take care of medical needsof Railway ernployees(serving& retired)and their farnilies.This may be sanctioned. Powers for recognisingcorporatehospitalsfor referral purposes shouto be delegatedto the GMs in view of the fact that the presentsystelnis causingabno.rar derays. Crant of compassionateappointment to the wiclows/wards of deceasedemployees of IRCA. Indian Railways ConferenceAssociation(IRCA) is Railway organisation working underthe gerNorthern Railway is the presidentof IRCA and tion with the supporl of a JAG/SG Grade Railway rization.The paymentof salary,pensionetc to the 'the Northern Railway. The OfficersiStaff of :rivileges similar to Railway staff and are Railway

Over the past few years a few employees of IRCA have expired. Their widows/wards have beenput to severehardship due to non-grant ofcompassionateappointment. Federation has brought thesecasesto the notice of Railway Board a nurnberof times but positive instructions on the issue havenot beenissuedso far and the bereavedfarnilieshave been sufiering for want of livelihood. NFIR requeststo approve cornpassionate appointmentto the wiclows/wardsof deceased IRCA staff. j)

Provision of Mobite Medical Vans at roadside stations and in remote places:-

Railway employees performing duties at remote locations and at places where Railway Health Units are not available, have been facing difficulties for getting medical treatment for them and their family members. Trials carried out for p.ouiOing' medical

assistance through Mobile Medical Vans have been proved successful.Hence,rnoie Mobile Medical Vans need to be provided for providing adequatemedical assistanceto the Staff working at road side stationsand remoteplaces. NFIR is confidentthat the proposalsIistedabove will be consideredby the Hon,ble MR tlrroughthe Rail Budget 2015-16to be presentedon the floor of the parliament. Yoursfaithfu

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah) General Secretary Copy forwardedto the Minister of Statefor Railways.Railway Board, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi, for information and necessaryaction. Copy fonvarded to theChairlnan, Railway Board, New Delhi for infonnation and necessary action. Copy forwarded to the Financial Commissioner,(Railways), Railway Board, New Delhi, for infonnation and necessaryaction. Copy forwarded to the Member Traffic, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action. copy forwarded to the Mernber Staff, Railway Board New Delhi for information and necessary action. Copy forwarded to the Executive Director/lR, Railway Board, New Delhi, for information and necessary action. to the GeneralSecretariesof Affiliated Unions of NFIR. r4opy M e d i aC e n t r e N F l R . Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/SR/2014lHLRRC. C o p yt o F i l eN o . I V / N F I R / H L C / F I N A N C I A L H E A L T H / I R . C o p yt o F i l eN o . I V , N F T R / F D I / I R .