SRMU flays Bibek Debroy recommendations

The Southern Railway Mazdoor Union has flayed the Union government that it has made all-out efforts to bring in foreign direct investment into the railways by ignoring the socially desirable projects and insisting on commercially viable ones.

Addressing a protest demonstration against the recommendations of the Bibek Debroy committee here on Tuesday, its president C.A. Raja Sridhar condemned the recommendation of downsizing the employee strength of the railways by 5.70 lakh.

Besides it has suggested to do away with the railway schools, hospitals, Railway Protection Force and Railway Colony.

“Housing facility for the railway men has been provided near the place of work since a railway man, who works round-the-clock, would need to rush to the railway station any time to attend an emergency work. If the colonies are given up where the railway man will go,” Mr. Sridhar said.

Stating that every job in different departments of the railway required specific medical classification, he said if the railway hospitals are done away with it will be difficult for the railways to take up everyday operation.

“The medical officers in central Government health schemes would not be aware of these things,” he said.

Mr. Sridhar said that Union Minister Suresh Prabhu had admitted that the railway was undercharging on both passenger fare and freight rates as part of its social obligation.

“While the operational cost of passenger train per km was 44 paise, we were charging only 15 paise. Similarly freight rates for all essential commodities were highly subsidised. This amounts to Rs. 25,000 crore every year. If the Centre reimbursed the railways for these concessions, Railway will become profitable,” he said.

Stating that the Union government has changed the railway policy from socially desirable to commercially viable, he said the Bibek Debroy committee had suggested privatisation of railway operation.

The SRMU would join the all-India strike proposed by employees of Central Government organisation in November, he said. The divisional secretary, J.M. Rafi, spoke.

“If the railway hospitals are done away with it will be difficult for the railways to take up everyday operation”