RC for SMs.
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by: Jj
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Word Count: 734
But the latter part of the phrase is not applicable in Railways especially in our cadre, wherein you and machines are treated alike. That is what is the principle of railways. Whatever you are, you are at times treated at par with machinery. And you know what will be the fate of a faulty machine. Repairs and lubrications are tried and if found fruitless, it will be simply replaced. Your fate in Railways is not different. And to overhaul your medula oblongata, they send you to the 'Temple of learrning'! But back once on openline, busy like a bee, you again forget everything which is humane. But the divine side is not touched if you err and you seek your fate.
On an average the railway spend about thirty thousand rupees for an SM attending Refresher Course. But considering the input output ratio, it is counterproductive. The mere purpose of RC is to facilitate you to remember the rules (which are dumped with correction slips), as you cannot turn the pages of GRS every now and then. Whereas in your day to day transactions, you come across the same rules most often and others are laid in the back of your mind. (Not every rule is useful for you in operation at your station). And here is the significamce of the rules. But will it be sufficient, if it is done once in many years? Never. You have to refresh it often. But that is impossible in your carrer and there lies the lacuna.
Every office in Indian Railways is adorned with a PC(Personal Computer) and personnel are send for on hands training to ZTCs and elsewhere. But you will not find a PC in any of the SM's office or even in SMR office for that sake (save for FOIS and UTS). And the administration thinks it is a waste of time to impart acquaintance of Computer to SMs; the result of which is that some lame hands appear in front of you, after making to sit before one of the system in ZTC and say that this is Word and the other is Excel and you can send email to others if you know how(which you have learnt to do from your wards) and also that you can play games too on the computer!
Dear friends, my doubt is that what for grant is given to ZTC when the major chunk is slated for building construction and modifications. Live Model Rooms were a necessity once but that is to to be replaced by less expensive 3D computer animations. Basic necessities like well ventilated rooms, or even water supply is side-tracked and cosmetic touches only given to ZTC and hostels. It seems as if the survival of the instittuition is more important than its purpose. The ZTC get overcrowded at times whne there is more than one batch of SMs doing RC and rooms have to be adjusted. But the PRTC gets efficiency shield for imparting training (?) to maximum personnel. In case of RC for SMs it is a fruitless job as you are chewing the cud but spit it out the moment you come out.
Coming to the point, it will be more fruitful if every station is provided with a PC/Printer loaded with GRS and connected to ZTC online so that you can clarify(if you desire so) the rules then and there. Even the printing of forms can be lessened thereby saving a lot of revenue. But manpower reduction and curtailing of expenditure comes to the fore only in case of posting SMs or openline staff connected with safety. Some may disagree on the grounds that RC is a relief from open line. In that case let it be one week leave for the SMs (of course from your credit) for holidaying every year so that you can be with your relatives or friends or your batchmates on a pleasure trip(anywhere in India). Why it is the same Singarathoppu shopping or Kallanai visit every time? The RC can be confined to LPs and Guards as of now and even that can be phased out with the advent of hardware. Think it over and opine.
Jj
Corruption in Society is just like the dust in atmosphere; it cannot be eliminated, but can be prevented.
About the Author
JJ is a regular contributor in SMs site.
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