Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
South Central Railway Mazdoor Union’s Warangal Branch organized a protest at the Mahabubabad section office to address long pending issues of railway track maintainers.
The Branch Secretary pointed out that even after 75 years of independence, track maintainers continue to endure heavy workload, resulting frequent accidents and health issues. He demanded immediate changes to the manuals to ease the burden on workers.
The protesters raised the following demands:
- Implementation of a two-shift work system for track maintainers,
- Review of beat length for keymen and patrolling duties,
- Expedite construction of tool rooms and patrolling huts,
- Increase of risk allowance and inclusion of artisan staff for risk allowance benefit,
- Provision of inter-departmental transfer opportunities for women in engineering roles,
- Expansion of promotion channels.
The union urged railway authorities to address these issues promptly to improve the working conditions and safety of track maintainers.