NRMU alleges exploitation of trackmen by CR admn during pandemic

Staff Reporter :

National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) has demanded relaxation from heavy duty working hours for trackmen considering the current pandemic situation in the city. The current situation here is not very conducive for group activity yet Central Railway (CR) administration is pushing the rigorous track maintenance works on the hapless trackmen. Habib Khan, Working President, NRMU, said that despite repeated plea to seniors in administration there was no change in ground situation. Within a fortnight about 20 trackmen under charge of Permanent Way Inspector (PWI) Nagpur have tested positive for novel coronavirus.

The situation arose as daily these railway workers are engaged in heavy overhauling works during the sultry weather. Throwing caution to wind, the Engineering Branch bosses are repeatedly putting 12 to 15 persons to track maintenance in groups where social distancing is not at all followed, Khan claimed.

Agreeing that there is a need to maintain tracks from point of safety of train travellers, Khan said, at least the administration can go for rotation of manpower, that includes ladies working with the gang, so that adequate rest is available to the trackmen. However, despite agreeing to hold talks, none of the senior officers have showed any concern and keep on intensifying the track work, he said. Similarly, NRMU also pointed out the step-motherly treatment to track maintainers as in case someone among them tests positive those in his company are not provided facility of home isolation as a matter of caution. And on other hand whenever senior officers have tested positive the railway administration have promptly closed their offices, disinfected the cabins. The other day Accounts Department at office of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), CR, Nagpur Division, was shutdown after one of the staffers tested positive for COVID-19. On the other hand over a dozen trackmen were issued show cause when they took one day leave after their colleagues tested positive for the coronavirus, Khan told The Hitavada.

Further the enmass surrender of posts in trackmen category has now put extra burden on the remaining manpower. And even the truncated numbers few chosen track maintainers are drafted for office and other non track related work which is violation of guidelines laid down by Railway Board. Not only that Khan alleged that the track maintainers drafted for office work continue to draw Travelling Allowance and also Risk Allowance, and wondered how such anomaly going unchecked by auditors?

The NRMU has also given notice for a day long agitation on September 29 protesting against non utilisation of funds given for repair and improve of amenities in railway colonies. Railway Board has disbursed the funds but at ground level divisional bosses are not utilsing even a single penny and the quarters continue to remain in dilapidated conditions. Khan contended that whenever questions are asked about lack of repairs, the officers said that there is shortage of manpower or problem with agency not ready to carry out works. If this is the situation then what's the use of Inspector of Works at colonies, these posts too should be surrendered and Railways can make huge savings, Khan said.