CR’s poser may put ALPs’ induction in limbo at Ngp Divn
   Date :17-Nov-2020

Central Railways _1 
 
 
By Sagar Mohod :
 
From panel of 194 successful candidates, the division has initiated the process for training of 100 only thus jeopardising others’ career, and delay in joining may render them unemployed
 
 
Fate of 94 candidates from panel of 194 Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) sent to Central Railway's Nagpur Division hangs in balance as local officials are dilly-dallying on their induction in service. The stance of division officials is baffling considering the fact that there exist vacancies of 225 in Loco Pilot cadre. Apprehending that further delay might led to lapse of ALP panel the youth trooped to division headquarters in a bid to leverage their join attempt to persuade officials to initiate process for their induction. However the youth, who hails from Rajasthan, drove all way to Nagpur hoping for some miracle to occur.
 
A panel of 194 candidates who had successfully cleared the examination, written and later physical conducted by Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Bilaspur was sent to Nagpur division for induction. The panel was sent as per the indent placed by the Central Railway officials considering existing vacancies and those that could arise in next two years as is the procedure. The process from RRB was completed in year 2018 itself and the induction process was to be completed by February 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought in nationwide disruption and the induction process was put on hold.
 
After ebbing on pandemic, division officials sent official communication to some 100 successful candidates from the 194 asking them report to office with original documents for verification as their training would commence from mid December. Since most of candidates from successful batch are regularly in touch quick phone calls were done wherein the fact about omission of 94 candidates from joining process came to light. Anguished at being left out the omitted candidate descended at Nagpur Division office in bid to know reason for the same. The youth said they had come all the way from Rajasthan by hiring a bus but local officials are not ready to process their documents. As per the procedure the officials from Personnel Branch scrutinise the documents and prepare their induction form but for the same they need clearance from parent cadre, in this case TRO Branch.
 
Since TRO officials are having some issues, they told the youth that they would accommodate only 100 candidates, that too in two batches of 50 each, while for 94 they will decide at later course. The stance of local officials irked the youth who were aggressively pushing their case following which security personnel form Railway Protection Force (RPF) were summouned to remove them form office of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM). During the discussion it came to forth that TRO officials are blaming lack of accommodation with Zonal Training Institute (ZTI), Bhusaval, for not able to induct entire panel. The youth however talked with ZTI officials who they claimed said there is no problem at their end. Later local TRO officials expressed inability to provide training to entire 194 panels, practical on field training is provided, and hence would be able to accommodate only 100.
 
The anguished youth approached local leaders of Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS) and narrated their plight. Virendra Singh, Divisional President, took-up the issue with senior division officials but they were firm on their stance. Singh said the Union stance is clear in case division does not have vacant posts they can send the surplus list back to Central Railway Headquarters so that the youth can be accommodated in other divisions. However the officials he alleged are not very keen to pursue the matter for reasons best known to them. However railway officials tried to allay the fears of 94 ALPs saying they would be accommodate in future. This was stated by S G Rao, Assistant Commercial Manager and Divisional spokesperson while talking to The Hitavada saying the candidates should have patience as unless ZTI gives clearance entire batch cannot be sent in one go for training. Talking to The Hitavada, Rao further said division is going to induct entire batch but not in one go due to capacity constraints.