Grievances of the Station Masters/Asstt. Station Masters: AIRF to Railway Board

ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN’s FADERATION

Dated: March 18, 2013 

It is unfortunate that despite vigorous persuasions from All India Railwaymen’s Federation, a very important cadre of SM/ASM, responsible for 24X7 hrs. train operation in all weathers and odd conditions, is still suffering a lot, and their legitimate demands are not being resolved. The irony of the fate lies in the fact is that, even the unanimous agreement for providing initial Grade Pay of Rs.4200 to Asstt. Station Masters, already agreed to in the Departmental Anomaly Committee, has not been implemented till date, and the issue is still hanging fire. 

Due to shortage of staff, SMs/ASMs are forced to work for longer duty hours and they are often victimized for petty reasons and forced to work under pitiable service conditions. 

All India Railwyamen’s Federation has been regularly raising the bonafide demands of this important category of staff, particularly their cadre restructuring, stoppage of victimization, provision of Entry Grade Pay of Rs.4200, provision of Safety and Hazardous Duty Allowance, payment of Washing Allowance etc. still remain unresolved. Their service conditions and the duties assigned to them fully justify that they should be brought into “Intensive” roster and must be provided with “Weekly Calendar Rest”. It has also been observed that, owing to non-provision of proper accommodation, poor living conditions and over hours working, a number of Station Masters, Asstt. Station Masters, Station Superintendents, Dy. Station Superintendents often fall sick and become patients of hypertension because of increased workload and working beyond duty hours. 

The above is occupational health and safety hazard. The staff working in the aforementioned categories are also unable to properly look-after their wards and families, because of which, their families and wards do suffer very badly. The SMs are working in the sections where trains are even passing at only 5 to 10 minutes and in the cabins which are interlocked in Automatic Signalling System, the ASMs are required to work round the clock, but are not being provided with proper rest, which is a serious safety violation. 

Keeping in view the miseries and pathetic conditions of above-mentioned staff, a Joint Committee needs to be formed to study and discuss the entire issue, right from their working and living conditions, wage structure, working hours etc., to give this important categories a fair-deal and to provide them stressed free environment. 

Yours faithfully, 

Sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)