“MULTISKILL” DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - FOR SMs
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“MULTISKILL” DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - FOR SMs
Dear Station Masters!
We all know that SMs of Indian Railways are appointed to the post of Station Master as under:
1. RRB competitive exam with qualification of any degree or staff on promotion (with inadequate qualification at the discretion of PHOD)
2. Medical Examination-On passing the exam.
3. An Initial Training program at ZTS of each Railway in GRs, BWM, COMMERCIAL-Chg/Goods,
After being appointed, SMs are given periodical Training and ‘occasional courses’ like
4. Refresher Course
5. Disaster management
6. Customer satisfaction/Relations for staff working in mass contact area – very few SMs get this opportunity.
Nowhere in IR SMs are imparted training in skills required to manage and run stations (of different traffic handling capacities / volumes / staff of various depts) in the areas of staff management, public relations, handling crisis etc in the course of one’s career progression. This particular area of managing station affairs has been left to the individual’s ability and efforts. This is the one and only major cause for the poor Station Masters’ inability/inadequacy to meet emergencies, tight spots, difficult situations, catastrophes and eventualities resulting in their poor performance generally [forget the very few lucky exceptions].
BUT THIS JOB OF SMS NEEDS EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO BE ‘MULTI SKILLED’
STRANGELY-SURPRISINGLY AND SHOCKINGLY the Indian Railway has never ever looked into this aspect of developing specialized ‘skill development program’ required for its most important cadre (Station Masters) playing vital role in offering the finished product of Indian Railway viz, “TRANSPORTATION” till date. Why?
Perhaps, it might have never flashed in the minds of the I R hierarchy (despite its technological up gradation) that this vital program needs to be designed and developed so as to impart it to its vital cadre called Station Masters/ Station Managers.
There may be other reasons
–perhaps the hierarchy is not too eager to equip this cadre with advanced management skills.
-may be the hierarchy opines that they do not need really multi-skilled Station Masters so that it would be easy to make the SMs scapegoats when they need alibi to bail themselves out from disasters & accidents.
-may be the IR hasn’t got skilled persons capable of developing such programs/course to suit to the cadre, viz, Station Masters.
Or else they may be suffering with negative speculations that such an advancement of your skills/personality may “throw them out of gear” in having total control over running the show of this great industry.
You can safely conclude that there are strong possibilities of the above contemplations.
You also have the other possibilities/choice such as ‘YOU, SMs becoming strongest cadre’ of Indian Railway by acquiring multi skilled personality with capacity to handle any situation by virtue of the unparallel slot you occupy in the Great Indian Railways. Only then NO OTHER UNION would have any role/say to decide your future. No doubt by acquiring such professional skills THE STATION MASTERS OF IR CAN FORCE THE IR TO EXTEND EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEGE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH YOU IGNORING THE RECOGNIZED TRADE UNIONS-THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE YOUR CHERISHED GOALS/DEMANDS.
DISCOURSE ON [CURRICULAM]
1. Personality Modification: A minimum required changes in one’s personality to suit to the job of an SM.
2. Management Skills:
- Leadership skills
- Communication skills
- Public relations/HR skills
- Crisis management skills
3. Basics – Career Building
- Minimum knowledge required in service matters to complete service safely,
- Establishment matters, conduct rules, CR/SR, medical, sick rules etc.,
- DAR and its basics [The Two sides of a coin – DAR applicable to employees & DAR, used/applied against employees by the authority/officers],
- Vigilance management and safety management in Railways.
We will work together and find the solutions. Find some time and talk to me.
G.Rajan, (M)9448293295; e mail: rajan.iyer@ymail.com
About the Author
G.RAJAN Ex.CVP and Retd.SM/SBC
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