Rlys to cut 15% workforce as it revises O&M yardsticks
| Date :06-Jul-2020 |
By Sagar Mohod :
The biggest employer in the country, Indian Railways too has gone for trimming its work force against backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic that has burnt a deep hole in its pocket. Fighting hard to keep afloat in the pandemic that has disrupted regular services, a manpower surplus Indian Railways has resorted to 2017 circular to undertake 15 per cent cut in its employee strength. COVID-19 pandemic has affected the economy and Railways could not ignore warning signs for long and hence undertook revision of yardsticks pertaining to operation and maintenance activities. feel the experts in transportation field.
After weighing all the options at full board meeting held on June 29, 2020 a decision on cutting workers’ strength was approved. Very next day a circular was issued by Railway Board to field units communicating its decision to apply new norms for all departments from July 1 onwards. During the time of pandemic Railways stands crippled as long distance passenger trains remain suspended. At present 100 pair of Mail/ Express plus couple of Rajdhani trains are in operation and current occupancy is stated to be below 50 per cent.
On goods front too, Time Tabled COVID-19 parcel trains are being operated but same are offering deep discounts in freight as Railways is trying to salvage some revenue from its vast network. So maximum burden in on Goods and maximum revenue is coming from transportation of coal to power houses. So in short, revenue of Railways is badly impacted and right now just 50 per cent of work force is attending office and this has not affected regular work. As there is no prediction on impact of COVID-19, an Railway official informed that future is bleak and thus cost savings becomes imperative. In that light, a 2017 note from the Chairman Railway Board (CRB) about Manpower Strategy Note was taken out and dusted as time is imperative to save on all fronts.
The said note was issued to all Zones in May 2018, calling their suggestions to determine from where to trim the work force. Since over the year, Railways have inducted various new technologies and future plans to further upgrade the rolling stock, signal and telecom gear, maintenance practices have undergone sea changes. From last few years the review was continuous exercise and previously the new yardsticks were implemented in Electrical, Mechanical and Accounts Department from September 2019 onwards.
The latest circular directed the application of new norms of maintenance and operations over Civil Engineer (Trackmen), Medical, Accounts and Commercial Departments to start with. Within Engineering, Bridge and Works wing, S&T, Security, Operating, Personnel and other Miscellaneous Departments have been excluded from current scope of revision. The Board’s circular issued by Sudheer Kumar, Additional Member (Planning), further informed the field units that final yardstick for each discipline would be communicated on case to case basis. It also mentioned that current cut in jobs is a temporary decision and after Board finalises case by case study, the interim orders would be automatically superseded. The implementation of revised yardsticks is entrusted to Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) and Principal Finance Adviser (PFA) to determine how to go about the execution. They are, however, advised to spare Electrical, Mechanical and Accounts Departments from current exercise.