Report by Com. Pintu Roy, National Assistant General Secretary, AILRSA
In Pune division, the organization of loco pilots of Indian Railways, All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), along with all loco pilots operated trains while on a hunger fast for 36 hours. Through this protest, they indicated that the railway administration should not ignore their demands. If their demands are not considered soon, then the organization will have to consider the agitation of stopping trains.
In this regard, loco pilots and their organization in Pune division have written letters to all the officials several times and have also been continuously protesting. The railways are treating the loco pilots in a step-motherly manner.
- The working hours of all departments and clerks in the railways are fixed at 8 hours. However, although loco pilots of railways have very difficult duty with a huge responsibility, these workers have to work continuously for 12 to 14 hours. From the perspective of safety, the High Power Committee had recommended in 2016 that loco pilots’ duty should be of 8 hours, but this has not been implemented yet. Even today, loco pilots continue to demand 8 hours of duty.
- Loco pilots have to struggle for weekly rest as well. They say that they have to work for 365 days, because of which they are deprived of their family and social life. While other cadres are getting weekly rest of 48 to 64 hours, loco pilots are given only 14 hours in the name of weekly rest, which is compromising the safety of the railways. In this case, the Hon’ble High Court had also given the decision that loco pilots are eligible to take 46 hours of weekly rest. Despite this, the railways are not accepting the decision of the HC.
- Loco pilots are made to work for 4-5 nights continuously. However, keeping in mind the safety of the railways, the High Power Committee had directed to set the limit at 2 night duties.
- A loco pilot has to stay away from his home for 72 hours, i.e. 3 to 4 days, due to which he is deprived of his family and social life. Therefore, in 2010 and 2016, the railways had accepted and also instructed that running staff should be brought back to the headquarters in 36 hours. But, this has not been implemented at the ground level.
- When the DA of central government employees of all departments of the country became 50%, there was an increase of 25% in TA. However, there has been no increase in the mileage rate given to running staff in the form of TA.
All the above demands are in accordance with the rules. If a loco pilot shows inability to operate a train safely after completing the prescribed 9 hours of duty, he is threatened with dismissal by Pune division officials, suspended for months, and many are not allowed back to work for months and suffer financial losses. In this way, loco pilots drive trains under tremendous stress and are forced to operate trains in unsafe conditions.
For all the above demands, loco pilots with AILRSA operated trains on empty stomachs for 36 hours and sat hungry with their families and children at the protest site, leaving their homes. But it is a matter of great shame that no administration official or supervisor came to talk to the loco pilots, to listen to their problems. Six loco pilots and some families are still admitted in the railway hospital after falling ill due to hunger, but no official is concerned about their health.
Now, the loco pilots are saying that if we cannot provide safety to railway passengers, then even if we have to stop the trains to prevent further accidents, we will do so.