Memorandum to DRM/PGT on 28/04/2009 by AISMA/PGT
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MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO DRM/PGT
The following is the text of the memorandum submitted to DRM on 28.04.2009:
Dear Sir,
We herewith submit the following important current issues pertaining to the category of SMs of this division for your information and appropriate action please:
1. Provision of adequate Leave Reserve / Trainee Reserve and filling up of vacancies:
From time immemorial, this Association is demanding filling up of vacancies of SM cadre as and when they arise. Also, we have been demanding sufficient sanction in the strength of Leave Reserve / Trainee Reserve. Whenever, we met Sr.DPO/PGT on this issue, he would say that PGT Division has proper strength of SMs and no vacancies exist. Yet, leave is not sanctioned / always sanctioned only on managing duties, by rationing?! Almost all SMs have LAPs piled upto the maximum limit for want of leave sanctioned, and they are forced to lapse 15 days LAP every six months and mostly unable to avail even the curtailed ten day’s Casual leave in a year! Due to lack of proper rest and leave, the social, emotional, mental and physical health of SMs in this Division has deteriorated to alarming level causing frequent reporting of sick and gradually making one by one a permanent sick patient culminating in medical decategorisation. It is therefore urged that all vacancies shall be filled up immediately in this cadre. We feel that SMs of PGT Division have been denied of their right to avail leave and rest, for a long time. As such, we demand proper strength of SMs in the division as in the case of other divisions. Towards this, we give here the example of MDU division.
Recently, while handing over CNV-POY-PGTN section of MDU Division to PGT Division, 26 post have been handed over to PGT Division (Reference I). From the work sheet (Annexure II) it could be seen that for 18 working posts including SMR/TI, 8 LR/TR post are provided. In other words, 31% of the total strength is provided as LR/TR. If the total strength of MDU Division is worked out, we can see that they are having LR/TR in the proportion (see Annexure III & IV). On the other hand, in PGT Division, we have 287 working post including SMR/TI (see Annexure V) if be adopt the parameters of MDU Division, we must have posts as given below.
18 : 8 : : 287 : ? = 128
Hence, we must have a total strength of 415 SMs (287 working posts + 128 LR/TR) in PGT Division. In other words, 31% 415 SMs comes to 128, which is to be the LR/TR strength. The LR strength is calculated as 25 % where as there is no norms adopted for calculating the TR posts. It is this element of TR posts that comes to the added percentage of posts in MDU division. The norms followed in MDU division shall be adopted here also by providing a minimum of 30% of sanctioned strength as LR +TR. Provision of 30% of LR is authorized vide Rly. Board’s instructions [Ref. Master Circular No. 41].
2. UTS operation & commercial duties:
We have been persistently demanding to free us from commercial duties. It is not that we are shirking our duties and responsibilities or trying to lessen our work load. Whenever, commercial works are carried out by SMs, they are forced to overlook safety guidelines as they would be engaged in ticket issuing to avoid passenger complaints and at times verbal/physical attacks. While a goods / non stopping train is passed through or passenger train arrives at the station, SMs engaged in issuing tickets are rarely able to attended such trains due to the crowd at the counter. Due to the low train fares, there is an abnormal hike in passenger traffic at way side stations. Utter chaos prevails at such stations, if there is no commercial clerk. Hence, we have been demanding posting of additional SMs or commercial clerks at such stations, as per Rly Board’s norms.
The norms for providing commercial clerks at stations [ Refer Annexure VI] are not followed at many stations. On many occasions, the available commercial clerks are not turning up for their booked duties but avail leave or report sick or the RG commercial clerks at way side station will not turn up, forcing the SMs on duty to perform their works also, to avoid public complaints and irritation.
It is a paradox that when the administration is insisting to ensure concentration of SMs on panels at the panel interlocked stations and advocating to ensure safety by issuing orders on posting additions SMs, here in PGT Division, the administration is leaping the UTS also on the lone SM on duty, under the pretext that it is to meet the ‘target’ fixed for commissioning UTS. Hence, to ensure safety of trains and travelling public as well as customer satisfaction, the commercial duties especially UTS operations must be taken away from SM or additional SM shall be posted to look after such duties. Further, the panel room should be freed of outside intervention like commercial operation, for enhancing concentration of the duty SM and ensuring safety in train operations.
3. Posting of additional SMs:
The Rly. Board’s order on posting of additional SMs at all panel inter locked stations as far back as in the year 2002 [No. 2002/Sig/PI/I dated 09.7.2002] is still not implemented. The idea was to free the panel SMs from other works at the station to prevent diversion of his attention. It is unfortunate to note that so many hurdles are placed in implementation of this important safety related orders till date and diluted to the extend of loosing the purpose. It is understood that 53 post SMs have been sanctioned by COM for PGT. Posting these additional hands must be done at the earliest so that accidents and untoward incidents can be averted.
4. Provision of adequate imprest cash:
The present imprest cash of Rs. 3,000/- per month with SMs is quite insufficient to maintain the required cleanliness and hygiene at stations. Though there is standing instructions to recoup the amount more than once in a month, it is impossible to put this into practice, since it takes more than one month for one time recoupment itself. In Kerala, the cost of labour is already high, labours seldom turn up for ‘mean’ works. Keeping clean the large circulating area is also a huge task. COM/MAS had recently opined in his inspection notes in CLT area that the imprest cash provided is to be enhanced. It is meaningless to criticize the SMs for lack of cleanliness when adequate funds are not given at his disposal. On the other hand, Rly. Contract rates for the same work at certain stations [like TIR, BDJ] are much higher to the tune of above Rs.2000/- per day. We demand increasing the imprest cash from the present Rs.3,000 to a minimum of Rs. 10,000 and request you to actively consider engaging contract labour for such works at all stations.
Copy to: Sr.DOM, Sr.DPO, Sr.DCM/PGT
Annexure – Zero based requirement of SMs in PGT divison
No. of Stations: 64
No. of Working points: 75
Continuous Working points: 68
Working posts: 68 x 3 = 204; RG: 34; Total 238.
E I Working points: 7
Working posts: 14; RG: 3; Total: 17
Total Working posts + RG: 255
SMR/TIs: 23
Other sanctioned posts: 9
Total posts: 287
No. of LR/TR: 62
Total sanctioned post as per DPO/PGT = 346
Post required as per provision and provided in other divisions as handed over by Madurai division to Palakkad, ie. LR & TR at 30 % of total strength:
287 x 100 / 69 = 416.
Present strength: 346
Additional posts required: 70
Courtesy: Newsletter - 73 of AISMA/PGT
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