Five Railway Federation/Associations, representing 13 lakh employees, have rejected key recommendations of Bibek Debroy committee panel including setting up of an independent regulator, separation of ministry and railway board and allowing entry of private players to run trains, among others.
Debroy panel which was appointed to suggest ways to mobilise funds and restructure railways had submitted its final report on June 12 and it has been a subject of debate every since among the unions.
Representatives of All Indian Railwaymen’s Federation, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), The Federation of Railway Officers Associations, Indian Railway Promotee Officers Federation and All Indian Railway Protection Force Association held meetings on the panel report on June 24 and June 26.
“We are pained to find that Committee’s main concern seems to be the growth and profit of private players, even if it is at the cost of interests of Indian Railways and nation. It is also distressing to note that Committee has displayed lack of faith in Railway Board, which is reflected in Committee’s insistence on keeping the ‘Ministry of Railways’ away from implementation decisions,” a joint statement issued by NFIR said.
The Associations/Federations have sent a joint letter to Railway Minister on Friday expressing their concerns. Each of these Associations /Federations are also planning to file a detailed response on the report.
The Unions also welcomed some of the measures suggested in the panel report including accounting reforms, decentralisation of powers, station re-development among others.
“While some of the recommendations are considered acceptable, some recommendations/remarks have highly adverse implications for the long term prospects and health of Indian Railways as well as nation, and therefore not acceptable at all,” the joint statement said.
“While need for reforms/improvements can not be denied being a continuous and inevitable process, the basic fabric of this longstanding and successful organization should not be destroyed in the name of reforms, as the same is likely to boomerang badly like that of British Railways,” it added.
The five Federations/associations also said that such recommendations should be discussed involving all stakeholders including them and a consensus should be arrived at.
The statement also expressed confidence that the Government would think several times seriously before taking a view on the report and will involve stake holders. It also called upon Railway employees to stage large scale protest, rallies, gate meetings at all levels.
