The Federation(AIRF) seriously believes that the Control Cadre, which is the Core Cadre of rail operation, has been neglected over the past many years, resulting in serious irregularities and HOER violation happening on many Divisions of the Indian Railways, which is in turn affecting rail operation and revenue generation.

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No.AIRF/232                                                                                                     Dated: August 10, 2015

The Member Traffic,

Rail Bhavan

New Delhi

 

Sub: Special Meeting on the issues of Control Cadre

The Federation(AIRF) seriously believes that the Control Cadre, which is the Core Cadre of rail operation, has been neglected over the past many years, resulting in serious irregularities and HOER violation happening on many Divisions of the Indian Railways, which is in turn affecting rail operation and revenue generation.

Hence, the Federation desires to have a special meeting to discuss these issues as under:-

  1. HOER VIOLATION

There are cases of gross HOER violation on many Divisions like under:-

  • In 13 out of 16 zones, Controllers who are working in Intensive Roster for 6 ½ hrs per day(6 hrs+ 30 mins. Preparatory and Complimentary Work provided as per Operating Manual) are not being given Weekly Rest.

As per HOER, the staff working in Intensive Roster is to work for 42 hrs a week and the statutory hours are limited to 45 hrs a week. Working 6 ½ hrs a day if utilized for 7 days totals to 45 ½ hrs which exceeds the statutory limit. (Section 132 of Railways Act 1989)  This is clear violation of HOER.

  • On some Div, just to avoid violation of HOER the Preparatory and Complimentary time of 30 minutes is reduced to 15 minutes. This is again a violation of HOER.
  • On some Div, Section Controller is made to perform in Continuous roster in spite of having a sanctioned Intensive Roster violating HOER.
  1. SAFETY VIOALTIONS

There are issues of safety violations on many divisions as under:-

  • Non designated Station Masters/Guards/TNcs and other cadre persons in Control Cadre without any selection and training. All posts in Control Cadre, including Time Table/HQ Controllers, should be filed by designated Controllers only.
  • Those medically de-categorized persons are posted in Control Cadre who are color blind, speech deficiency patients, cardiac patients, hearing deficiency etc. This can seriously dent safety of Control working. 
  • 30% Leave Reserve in Safety Cadre not implemented.
  • Safety orders of road learning of the section before taking charge as Controller of that section before taking charge on any post not implemented.
  • Safety orders of Periodical Refresher Course for Controllers not implemented. 
  1. High handedness of some Divisional Officers 
  • CHC P posts not sanctioned on some divisions, but operated from Leave Reserve.
  • Cases of officers at divisional level using humiliating and unparliamentarily language with even senior most CHC is been reported.
  • On the division where Sub-Controls are operated, there is a recurring threat of transfers to Sub- Controls, disturbing the Controllers.
  • On some divisions, the CHC In-charge are replaced by junior CHC, causing humiliation to CHC In-charge.
  • On some divisions, there is unwarranted interference by officers in the daily affairs of Control office and issuing charge sheets and suspension on pressure from HQ or on false feeding by their office non control staff and without taking the CHC In-charge in confidence and also pinpointing, which Controllers should work on which post in control office.
  1. Issues requiring urgent intervention of Board
  • Filling up vacancies in Control Cadre.
  • Reclassifications of some Boards on many Divisions where there are Boards with Continuous Roster to Intensive Roster.
  • CHC P/COG and CHC GDS table has become unmanageable with one hand. Either a Job Analysis of this post to be conducted or one additional hand in each shift to be provided.
  • Bifurcation of lengthy Boards and those Boards with 2/3/4 different sections compiled in one Board.
  • Periodical on duty medical checkup and organizing Stress Management Courses for the Controllers.
  • Paperless working.
  • Upgradation and modernisation of many Control offices.
  • Some basic changes required in the programming of COA to ease Control operations.
  • MACP Policy not uniformly implemented by all Divisions as per prescribed rules.
  1. Break Down Allowance 

The only cadre deprived of this allowance in spite of very minutely involved in any breakdown activity is the Control Cadre, but unfortunately this cadre is deprived from Breakdown Allowance.

  1. Promotional avenues for Control Cadre:

Looking at the volume of work, the stress involved, the sensitivity of work, its overall impact on rail operation, revenues and the responsibility shouldered by Control Cadre, it needs a better promotional avenues.

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