NFIR Demands Scrapping of New Pension Scheme (NPS) and grant of “One Rank – One Pension” to Railway Employees.

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Affiliated to :

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

lnternational Transport Workers Federation (ITF)

Dated:06/09/2015

Press Statement of Dr.M. Raghavaiah, General Secretary, NFIR

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen while welcoming the Government’s announcement for introduction of “One Rank – One Pension” for ex-servicemen, urges upon the Hon’ble Prime Minister to take steps for granting similar pensionary benefits to the Railway employees also.

The duties of Railway employees are hazardous, risky and complex. They work at over 8,000 Railway stations covering the Railway Tracks of over 65,000 kms. Over 85% of Railway employees perform duties at remote places, extremist infested areas and places where no township or medical or drinking water or schooling facilities exist. Like Army, Railway employee cannot leave their post till another employee takes over the charge. The Railway tracks are maintained by the employees facing inclement weather conditions and working under open sky akin to that of defence personnel. On an average 800 Railway employees get killed per year in the course of performing duties and nearly 3000 sustain injuries while on duty.

For ensuring uninterrupted services the Railway employees are required to be on high alertness at all times. The Railway employees maintain high degree of discipline and efficiency to ensure that the Rail Transport System functions without interruption. The Chairman of the Railway Safety Review Committee” Justice H.R. Khanna (Retired Supreme Court Judge) had observed in his report that the working of the Railway system is more like armed forces, thus historically the Indian Railways functions differently from other Government Institutions.

The uniqueness in duties being performed by Railway employees is unmatched as these employees are involved in safe and efficient train operations more particularly the statf like Train Controllers, Station Masters, Electric Signal Maintainer. Technical Staff, Loco pilot. Guards. Technical Supervisors whose duties and responsibilities are similar to that of defence personnel.

Indian Railways plays crucial role not only for the economic development of the country but also for ensuring rapid movement of Army, Military Hardware to the Borders and rises to the occasions when the security of the country is at stake. Railway employees face war like situation in their day-to-day working i.e. breaches, bandhs. civil disobedience movements. accidents etc.. and ensure maintaining the supply line all throughout.

It is unfortunate that the Railway employees have been subjected to injustice by governing them under New Pension Scheme with effect from January, 2004, Railwaymen’s demand for abolition of New Pension Scheme is unresolved even though Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge had recommended for exemption of Railways from New Pension Scheme.

I therefore, appeal to the Prime Minister of India to scrap New Pension Scheme in Railways and grant “One Rank – One Pension” Scheme to the Railway employees as has been agreed to in the case of retiring defence personnel.

Sd/-

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source: NFIR 

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Railway Employees Federation demand One Rank One Pension for Railway Employees

Railway Employees Federation demand One Rank One Pension for Railway Employees

Indian Railways jumps on OROP bandwagon

The specific mandate for the pay commission, however, does not include the examination of OROP even though its award will cover military personnel too.

Employees of the Indian Railways have demanded the benefits of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) policy if the Centre implements the scheme for defence services personnel. They have made this pitch in their discussions with the Seventh Pay Commission. 

Speaking to The Indian Express, Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation, the largest railway union in the country, acknowledged the demand. “The principle of OROP should be applicable to the railway employees also if the same is accepted for the defence services by the pay commission. We sympathise with their demand and feel it should be extended,” he said. 

The railway unions had met the commission for oral evidence in March this year. 

The demand could create complications for the Centre which has so far not been able to respond to the original demand from ex-servicemen. The specific mandate for the pay commission, however, does not include the examination of OROP even though its award will cover military personnel too. The railway employees have, however, made it clear to the commission that if there is any suggestion on OROP in the final report, then their demands should also be considered favourably.

 The Commission has already overshot the time frame for submitting its report on a revised salary structure for central government employees, which was due in August. It is now likely to submit the report by September-end. 

The demand by railway employees for OROP could lead to demands from other civilian services as well, even as the bill for meeting the demand from the defence services is still being firmed up. At 1.33 million, railway employees form the single largest chunk from among any ministry or department of central government staff. Their salary and allowance bill for 2015-16 is estimated at Rs 62,410 crore, or almost 42 per cent of the total bill of Rs 1,49,524 crore as per budget figures. 

While the Seventh Pay Commission, in its internal deliberations, is understood to have not taken a favourable view of the OROP because of the financial implications, any formal examination of the same will have to depend on the government’s position on the issue. The government is now expected to set up a committee on the issue.

 Overall, the commission has decided that the extent of rise in pay for all central government staff would, on average, be about 26 per cent. But here too, the commission is learnt to have favoured going back to the Fifth Pay Commission award of making pay scales attached to posts instead of retaining the innovative pay bands system introduced by the Sixth Pay Commission. 

It has also decided to remove the slight edge in pay structure of IAS officers as compared to other central service officers. 

Source:www.indianexpress.com

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