NFIR

of IndianRailwaymen Federation National ROAD,NEWDELHI- 110055 3, CHEI.MSFORD Affiliated to : IndianNationalTradeUnionCongress(INTUC) InternationalTransportWorkers'Federation(lTF) No. IVA{FIR/FDIiIR

Dated:l8ll2l20l4

Sub: Meeting of NFIR with the Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu at Rail Bhawan New Delhi on L8thDecember 2014. A specialmeetingwas held by the Hon'ble Railway Minister Shri SureshPrabhuwith NFIR and AIRF, this day 18tnDecember2014 at Rail Bhawan,New Delhi at 13:00hrs. The purposeof meeting with the Federationswas to discussFDI related issuesand other important matters. On behalf of NFIR, the President and General Secretary have participated in the meeting.The following importantissueswere discussed:(D

FDI in Railways

NFIR has categorically stated that the FDI decision is not acceptableto the Federations.It was explained to the Minister that the averageRailway employee throughout the Indian Railways is disappointed,angry and very much disturbedover the decision.NFIR insistedthat the Hon'ble Railway Minister to seethat the Governmentof India's notification dated 22181201,4for the purpose of allowing FDI, is withdrawn and Board and the Federations to work jointly to find ways and means for generating resources internally insteadof going to foreign countries/markets. The Minister explainedthat no harm will be done to any Railway employeeandhe is with the Federationsand will always see that Railway Ministry gets the perceptions of the Federations.He also tried to explain that the intentions are for improving the network and not to causesetbackto the Railways are the Rail Workforce. The NFIR informed the Minister that since the FDI is harmful to the Railways and the Railwaymen,a decision calling for strike in Railways has alreadybeen taken in view of the fact that the Railway employees have never allowed the Indian Railways to fail during the past 40 years including the crisis periods and cannot afford to keep quite when Indian Railwaysis disturbed. " (ii) NFIR expressedits disappointmentover the appointment of High Level Railway RestructuringCommittee (HLRRC) and categoricallytold the Hon'ble Railways Minister that thesecommittees cannot produce results whereasthe Federationsand the Railway Board should sit togetherand work for improving the efficiency of the Railways. The Federations can give more inputs for generatingresources.It was suggestedthat such Committees are to be abolished. While appreciatingNFIR's point of view, the Minister said that the said Committee has been appointedprioi to his assumptionof office of MR, and he advised Member Staff to discusswith both the Federationsin the form of a Joint Standing Committee to find ways and meansto resolvetheissues.

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New PensionScheme

NFIR has brought to the notice of Minister for Railways that the proposal already sent by the then Railway Minister on29thMarch 2014 seekingexemptionof Railway employees from New Pension Scheme and further said that the proposal was sent after an agreement reachedin the full Board Meeting held with the Federationson 7'n February 2014. The Federation specially urged upon the Railway Minister to approach Union Cabinet for the purposeof ensuring that New Pension Schemeis withdrawn in Railways like that of Defence Forcesin the Country. The Minister has assuredto look into the matter and instructed CRB and MS to brief him the factsof the case. (iv)

Staff Welfare

The miserablecondition of Railway Quarters,non-allotmentof Resourcesetc., were explainedto the Minister who in tum directedthe CRB that a note shouldbe sentto Financial Commissionerof Railways (FC) for proposing allocation of more funds in the ensuing Budget and to provide adequatesums for improving the condition of the quartersoccupied by the Staff who are in GP 1800/-and above. Along with the Railway Minister, Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of State @ailways), CRB Shri Arunendra Kumar, MS Shri A.K. Mittal and ED/IR Smt Ragini Yechury were presentin the meeting. (v) During the meeting, the CRB raised the issue relating to PLB formula and sought cooperationof both the Federationsin working out the formula as this matter is causing concern everyyear due to objectionsbeing raisedby Ministry of Finance. The Minister directed the Member Staff to discuss with both the Federations and make out sucha proposalwhich is generallyacceptableto all the stakeholders. Before concluding, the Hon'ble Railway Minister assuredto meet the Federations very often on imporlant matters and also said that the dialogue will continue with the Federationsfor the overall good of the Railways and the Railway employees.He specially appealedto the Federationsto try to remove misgivings among the Railway employeeson FDI, PPP etc. The Federationshowever said that an official statementmay be issuedby the Railway Minister and also the Federations may be shared with all the official material relating to FDI, PPP other policies for appreciationof the Federationsand for responding positively for the good of the Railways and the Nation Th6 meeting, by and large, was cordial.

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah) General Secretary

Copyforwardedto the GeneralSecretaries of AffiliatedUnions of NFIR for conveyingthe abovecontentsdownthe line amongRailwayemployees. MediaCentreA{FIR. FileNo. Illgs/Part.VI FileNo. IVAIFIR/S.R.12014 (HLRRC)