HEROES DIE ONCE, COWARDS DIE EVERY DAY!! FIGHT AND PROSPER, ELSE PERISH!!
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HEROES DIE ONCE, COWARDS DIE EVERY DAY !!
FIGHT AND PROSPER, ELSE PERISH !!
Dear Brand Ambassadors of Indian Railways !
Let us assemble before the GM’s Office at New Delhi, Secundrebad, Bomay VT and Hajpur, on 01st December 2009, for “ONE DAY token FAST”.
Fine! You are surprised or angry?
Perhaps you have a right to be angry rather than surprised. How long we have been hearing these agonizing decorations heaped on the Station Masters of Indian Railways by none other than the Chief Executives (CEOs) of this great organization even as every Pay Commission has been brutally awarding JUST PEA NUTS TO THE STATION MASTERS? Let us lead you on the memory lane first and then to the present:
The decorations, the decoration and the decorations!!!
1. Hon’ble Justice Shankar Saran-1961 - “In a shift of duty, one ASM Station Master on a road side station has simultaneously to perform of ASM, Shuntman, Trains clerk, Signaller, Booking clerk, Passenger Guide, Enquiry Clerk, General Supervision, in addition to his duties i.e., train passing. The train passing is in itself a duty of grave responsibility and heavy mental strain, so much so that a slight mistake may cause disastrous consequences, involving loss of thousands of lives and property worth lakhs of rupees in a moment and may lead the poor SM/ASM to jail”
2. Sr.DOM/Plg./NDLS-1999 - “Responsible for the lives of thousands of passengers and property worth crores of rupees and the image of the railways is dependent of him. To be super human and to do everything related to train operations. What a paradox that the who is battling it out in the field is not only getting less money but is also not allowed by the administration to lead a normal life. It is not certain what can be done to retrieve the situation. But one thing is sure ASMs, operating staff, must get better pay package than the ministerial staff and this must be a recommendation to the administration.”
3. Hon’ble Justice KHANNA had observed after the GAISAL catastrophe-
It is true that nothing can be more exhilarating, meaningful and priceless than the high morale of the work force. It `costs' nothing, but it is the greatest and life-long challenge demanding contribution from all levels. Running trains is not a mere transportation business or selling consumer products, to be considered purely on commercial terms. For a Gangman or a Station Master, working at isolated, un-inhabited location, away from cities and towns, is not a mere job; it is rather a `Dharma' to be performed, oblivious of all social, political and economic upheavals. This is a sample of human resource, which IR are composed of.
4. GM/SR-Shri.V.Anand-Lr.No.CM/M/2003/01/470 Dt.7.1.2003- In the recent collision in South Central Railway the station staff were held prima-facie responsible. We have to address ourselves very seriously to reducing accidents on account of failure of railway staff. The most important aspect is the provision of working conditions conducive to safety. While on one hand we have to ruthlessly take up with staff who are negligent and use short cut methods we should also make concerted efforts to improve working conditions, particularly at remote way side stations.” Generally there are deficiencies such as, (a) Rank vegetation, particularly around the cabins and the pathways leading to them. If we do not have proper pathway for the Points man to walk, they will be tempted to use short cut methods while piloting the trains,(b)Mosquito menace,(d) Lack of civic amenities such as drinking water supply and residential accommodation which renders certain stations as ‘punishment postings’.
5. Hon’ble Justice Rathnavel Pandian (Para 83.124-Vol.II-Vth Pay commission-chairman. -1996)- “The post of the Station Master is a popular icon most often associated with the Railway system. This important category is responsible for receipt and dispatch of trains in the station, over all supervision and co-ordination of work between the staff of the different departments and the Station Master performs duties in two or the three shifts in a cycle of twenty four hours.”
6. Shri.B. Krishna Kumar- DRM/SBC-20.3.2002 - “The image of the Railways depends upon the hard working and dedicated station Masters working at the Way side stations. There services is next only to military personnel. They carry the Railways on their shoulders like Atlas carrying earth.”
7. Shri.PrashanthKumar-Sr.DOM/SBC.Lr.No.B/T.DAR/SF.5/I/39 Dt.28.7.1998- “The duties of SM calls for a great degree of sincerity, commitment, team work and willingness to shoulder responsibilities. The SM is the most visible and representative face of the Railways, and as such, he is expected to contribute his mite towards improving the services and amenities provided by the Railways to the traveling public. The interaction of the SM with the public to a large extent makes or mars the image of the Railways. An in-charge SM being an identified leader of his team at his station is expected to lead by example and set standards to his subordinates to emulate especially in the matters concerning discipline and efficiency.”
8. Shri.M.C.SRIVATSAVA-(MT/RB).D.O.Letter No.2002/Safety (A&R)/ 26/5 New Delhi, 11.2.2003 - “Over the years it has been observed, despite heavy investment in modernization, automation and mechanization, station staff are being assigned additional responsibilities. There is an urgent need to scrutinize and assess whether it is humanly possible to handle all assigned duties, faithfully, according to the spirit of the prescribed procedure.
9. Shri.Vinesh Kumar-(ED/Traffic)-No.2002/TG/V/IO/PA/110/CRS/SBC Dt.24.05.2004 Para 16.1 The SM/ASM are the most stressed category due to excess work load. The roadside station staff performing simultaneous, operating and commercial duties get highly stressed due to role overload, role conflict and unreasonable pressure. His occupational stress index is alarmingly high and he is highly dissatisfied with his job and management.
10. Shri.Kamalesh Gupta, Director/Safety, No.2004/Safety-1/ 28 / 1, Dt. 21.01.09 - Due to difficult working conditions of staff in ASM category there is reluctance to take up this job. The ASMs have to perform duties at stations located in far flung rural areas where the education of the children and / or employment of their spouse may not be adequately possible. Unlike the running category staff they do not get any special allowances. There is consequently reluctance of compassionate category appointees to join as an ASM. In view of the facts that the Pay commission that has not recommended any special allowance to the ASM it may not be possible to consider this.
In serial no.1 you saw that a slight mistake can take you to jail; in serial no.2 you are the superhuman; in serial no.3 what you do is not a job but DHARMA; in serial no.4, your DHARMA is awarded with mosquitoes and punishments stations; in serial 5, you are the popular icon of Indian Railways; in serial no.6, you are the ATLAS of the Railways; in serial no.7, you are the visible face of the Railways and the identified leader at the station; in serial no.8 you are doing SOMETHING HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE (great, HATS OFF Mr.Srivatsava);in serial no.9, you are the most stressed category; and in serial no.10, the decades of AISMA’s struggle for RUNNING ALLOWANCE IS ECHOED; AISMA and the SMs community is indebted to Shri.Kamalesh Gupta who PLACES SMS ON PAR WITH RUNNING STAFF AND unequivocally concedes that SMS ARE NOT PAID ANY SPECIAL ALLOWANCE LIKE RUNNING STAFF. Every AISMA man and those who slogged for the causes of SMS (and Running Allowance, in particular) during the past 3 decades can have a happy sigh now. For the first time a top man in the hierarchy is judicious enough to place the SMs on par with running staff- AISMA’s three decades’ demand.
MEMORY LANE TO REALITY SHOW NOW.
Now let us take you to your current locus standi.
11. Shri.J.L.Arora, Director Safety,Lr.No.2004/Safety-I/28/1 Pt dt.16.04.2009.
“Vide letters under reference, Board had invited feedback from COMs of Zonal Railways to bring out the difficulties faced by ASMs and suggest remedial measures, if any. Large number of suggestions has come been received from the Zonal Railways. These suggestions are varying from INCREASE IN SALARY, MORE ALLOWANCES to more facilities at work places and for family. These are compiled and attached as Annexure-1.
While suggestions related to increased salary, higher grade pay, allowances etc. may be looked into by next pay commission, most of the suggestions to provide tangible benefits to ASM category by providing them less stressful environment at work place and better facilities for the family members can be examined and implemented by the zonal Railways.
Let us assemble before the GM’s Office at New Delhi, Secundrebad, Bomay VT and Hajpur, on 01st December 2009, for “ONE DAY token FAST” to achieve the Minimum Grade Pay of Rs.4200 and max GP of Rs.5400, Better percentage Distribution, First Class Pass to all Station Masters irrespective of Grade Pay, Posting of Additional SMs etc.,
IT HAS TAKEN US FORTY YEARS TO CONVINCE THE RAILWAY BOARD THAT THE STATIONS MASTERS ARE THE BRAND AMBASSADORS OF IR AND THAT THEY DESERVE BETTER PAY AND ALLOWANCES NOT WITHSTANDING AMENITIES TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. At this juncture should the SMs community wait for another one decade and next Pay Commission to avail their legitimate remuneration? No employee with self respect and self esteem CAN STAND THIS INSULT AND INJUSTICE.
AISMA shall chalk out serious trade union actions deemed fit as it has dawned on every officer in Indian Railways and the Railway Board that THE STATION MASTERS DESERVE BETTER PAY STRUCTURE AND ALLOWANCES.
Let us assemble before the GM’s Office at New Delhi, Secundrebad, Bomay VT and Hajpur, on 01st December 2009, for “ONE DAY token FAST” to achieve the Minimum Grade Pay of Rs.4200 and max GP of Rs.5400, Better percentage Distribution, First Class Pass to all Station Masters irrespective of Grade Pay, Posting of Additional SMs etc.,
AISMA ZINDABAD! SMS’ UNITY ZINDABAD!! AIREC ZINDABAD!!!
About the Author
Com.G.Rajan Ex CVP and Retd SM/SBC/SWR and DEC/SBC Dvn
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