All India Railway Trackmaintainer Union (AIRTU)’s letter to the Railway Minister
(Translation of Hindi letter)
AIRTU
All India Railway Trackmaintainer Union
Ref. No. AIRTU/NATIONAL WORKING PRESIDENT/25
Date: 16/12/2024
To,
Hon’ble Rail Minister
Government of India, New Delhi
Subject: Regarding review of track maintainers’ night patrolling distance and availability of Rakshak devices
Sir,
Track maintainers, who are considered the backbone of the Indian Railways, are around 4 lakhs in number, and they play an important role in ensuring the safety of the railway track, because of which passengers and goods can be safely moved from one place to another. Today, these track maintainers are working in unsafe conditions on the track. Track maintainers are made to patrol in the night, from 10 pm to 6 am, walking for 16 to 20 km on the busiest tracks in the dark, with only the light of a torch. Fulfilling this duty without Rakshak devices is adding to the physical and mental pressure of the work. Thus, every other day, in one or the other division, track maintainers are dying. Sir, despite the large number of deaths of track maintainers, the Rakshak device, which can ensure workers’ safety, has not been distributed in any division.
Thus, the AIRTU humbly requests you to consider this issue seriously as you are also a sensitive person. Please make these Rakshak devices available as soon as possible. Otherwise, AIRTU will be forced to organized a one-day dharna at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Chand Mohammed
National Working President
All India Railway Trackmaintainers’ Union
Copy to:
- Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi ji
- PTI News, New Delhi
- All railway general managers