Report of Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) Correspondent
Indian Railways are continuing to reduce the number of employees by asking Railway Zones and Divisions to surrender posts even when there over 3 lakh vacancies. This is evident from the letter of the General Manager (Personnel), South Central Railways dated 24.12.2024. The letter asks the heads of various departments to surrender a total of 1,839 posts as per the target for their department in the current financial year 2024-25. (Letter enclosed)
The reduction of employees is being pursued despite the Railway Board accepting that manpower shortage is becoming a critical issue for safe operations. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board had written a letter to the Ministry of Finance, on 11th September 2024, highlighting the critical issue of manpower shortages in the safety category and the need of additional staff “urgently” to ensure the safe operation of trains. (See the AIFAP report and letter on 17th September – Sustained agitation of rail workers forces railway authorities to finally seek approval for creation of additional posts in safety category – AIFAP)
The Chairman in his letter had highlighted the exponential growth in railway infrastructure, particularly the increase in new lines and trains, and emphasised the need for the creation of new posts.
“For effective monitoring and execution of various projects, maintenance of new assets, and the smooth and safe operation of trains, there is an urgent requirement for additional manpower in Indian Railways,” he had stated.
He had stressed the need for the Ministry of Railways to be granted authority to create non-gazetted posts in essential safety categories, without matching the surrender of existing posts.
Currently, new posts (apart from running staff) cannot be created without a matching surrender of equivalent number of posts by the Indian Railways, which is an anti-worker rule being enforced, resulting in the severe shortage of posts in the safety category.
The Central government on the one hand is giving big corporates all kinds of concessions while on the other hand it is enforcing a reduction of manpower in vital sectors like Indian Railways. This anti-worker, anti-people policy will only lead to increased stress on the existing workers and create conditions for more rail accidents.
The Railway unions, both “recognised” and “unrecognised” have for long been agitating for filling the 2 lakh vacancies in the safety category, including loco pilots, train managers, station masters, track maintainers, signal and telecom maintainers, pointsmen, etc. and creation of new posts due to increased number of trains.
The enforcement of reduction of manpower goes against all norms for safe running of trains and needs to be condemned.
Upload.Reduction of sanction strength - SCR