Report by correspondent of Mazdoor Ekta Committee (MEC)
Under the leadership of All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), railway drivers (loco pilots) organised demonstrations across the country on 4 September. These protests were organised in front of the offices of the General Managers of all the 16 zones of the Railways across the country, including in Delhi. Men and women drivers participated enthusiastically in these demonstrations in every zone.
After the demonstrations, memorandums regarding workers’ demands were handed over to the General Managers of all zones on behalf of the union.
In these demonstrations, railway drivers raised the demand for immediate recruitment on vacant posts. They raised their voice against the reduction in staff. They opposed the privatization of railways and handing over of government institutions to private hands. They raised the problem of the lack of toilet facilities for women railway drivers.
It is worth mentioning that the loco pilots had applied for leave to protest. But it has been reported from many zones across the country that their applications were rejected and they were ordered that they cannot participate in any such protest. In many zones, the railways issued a circular saying that AILRSA is not a recognized organization and hence it cannot be allowed to hold gate meetings or gatherings. The protesters condemned this move of the railways and said that this is a violation of our democratic rights.
Hundreds of railway drivers organized a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi regarding their demands. Workers of Northern Railway Zone said that the leave applications of more than 200 drivers of their zone were rejected. Despite this, more than 500 drivers participated in the demonstration.
The people present in the demonstration were holding placards in their hands, on which were written the slogans “Stop selling Indian Railways!,” “Provide basic facilities to women running staff!,” “Stop handing over the control of government institutions to private hands!,” “Stop playing with safety by reducing staff and citing the shortage of staff as the reason!”
The demonstration was concluded with slogans like “Inquilab Zindabad!,” “Loco Pilots’ Unity Zindabad!,” “Stop Privatization in Railways!”