Unequal fixation of Pay.
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by: jj_v
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Word Count: 540
While the fitment ratio given for all central govt. employees covered by the 6th PC is 1.86 for calculating the newy pay; it is 2.12 for running staff alone in Railways. Why this anomaly? If the Pay element of Running Allowance is the answer, it is incorrect. For it is enhanced virtual pay for calculating other benefits and this cannot be taken into account. The correct procedure is to calculate the DA and dearness pay on the original basic pay and give fixation and thereafter add the thirty percent virtual pay for calculating the new DA. But what is done is in wrong method. That is to say thirty percent is added to the pay and pay rpounded off which again carries thrity pay enhancement. The result is that running staff get 15% more basic pay in the revised scale and then again thrity percent hike on it for all other allowances. In the beginning itself the difference in DA is fifty per cent. This is gross injustice meted out to the Open line(Field Staff) employees of Indian Railways that is happening for years together. The opern line employees have the onus of responsibility for their post and are individually answerable to any lapses then and there. Whereas for sdministrative staff it is not so. The risk and strain involved therefore is manifold in case of open line staff when compared to ministerial employees. The open line staff lack in stipulated hours of work and denied holidays and deprived of social commitments. All this go alike the running staff who claim for their strenous nature of work. Another ridicule is that any body falling under the running staff category is given the benefits irrespective of his job(like PRC, Crew controller and Train Traffic Contollers selected from Guard' category) and are given higher pay in the name of pay element of running allowance. When there is more risk and starin involved to keep the wheel moving on, this is hardly recognised by the authorities. In any industry, the factory workers get more pay by virtue of risk allowances, but here railwaymen get nothing. An exception only being the running staff. So we have to fight it out to get our pay at par with the running staff. The trackman who turmoil in the burning sun or night patrolman who have to walk twenty kilometres every night is not given any extra pay for the great responsibility he is shouldering. The role of shunting staff in yard who guides the loco pilot be it rain or shine is never reckoned. The part played by the signal staff in upkeep of the signals and points by the side of the track is never looked into. The strain involved in clearing the que at the booking offices or risk involved in clearing the booked parcels and or Goods is never rreckoned with.But the claim by the running staff that they are taking more risk to run the trains alone is given due weightage. In short those who are directly connected with the safe and punctual running of trains are ignored; save for the Loco Pilots and Guards. We have to fight against this anomaly and get our pay equal with the running staff.
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J J Vellara , SM Srly.
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