Sub: Freezing of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief – Reg.
Ref.: MoF(Deptt. of Exp.), Government of India’s O.M. No.1/1/2020–E-II(B) dated 23.04.2020

COVID-19 Pandemic has created unprecedented for situation in our country as well as the entire world.

No.AIRF/24(C) Dated: April 27, 2020

Shri Piyush Goyal Ji,
Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Ministry of Railways,
(Government of India),
Rail Bhawan,
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

Sub: Freezing of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief – Reg.
Ref.: MoF(Deptt. of Exp.), Government of India’s O.M. No.1/1/2020–E-II(B) dated 23.04.2020

COVID-19 Pandemic has created unprecedented for situation in our country as well as the entire world.

Railwaymen have already been proving their worth in the Government’s endeavour to combat this unbearable situation caused due to COVID-19 outbreak. They are not only performing their normal duties to maintain uninterrupted chain of supply of Essential Commodities, Like Foodgrains, Sugar, Milk, Water, Petroleum Products, Medicines and Medical Equipments, Daily Consumable Items, Perishable, etc. etc. by running time-tabled Goods and Parcel Trains across the country, but also they have come forward to accept the challenge of undertaking the manufacturing of medical items, like Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) , Sanitizers, Masks and Ventilators, etc. etc., at a very low cost, apart from their normal works.

Railwaymen have also risen to the occasion to convert Railway Coaches into “Isolation Wards” to the tune of 5,000 Coaches, as per directives of Government of India and Ministry of Railways, within the targeted time.

They are facing the threat of COVID-19 while performing their normal duties as well as additional assignments entrusted to them.

Your goodself has already applauded their works repeatedly during COVID-19 Crisis.

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, in his “Mann Ki Baat” to the Nation, on 26th April, 2020, also appreciated and praised the Railwaymen for their dedicated works being performed by them as “COVID-19 Warriors”.

We feel sorry to mention here that, while the work of the Railwaymen is being appreciated very-well, not only by your goodself, but also by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, but on the other hand, instead of providing them any Motivational Incentive, the Government have issued orders to defer payment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief w.e.f. 1st January, 2020 up to 30th June, 2021.

Your goodself may appreciate that, Railwaymen have already contributed their one day’s salary in the PM CARE Fund and are also rendering valuable services in this period of crisis.

Orders of freezing Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, which, of course, is paid to compensate depreciation of their salary due to market hike, would definitely prove to be de-motivational, resulting in serious sense of disappointment in the Railway Employees as well as Central Government Employees and Pensioners/Family Pensioners.

Hon’ble Prime Minister has already made an appeal to all the Employers of the country, neither to throw any employee out of employment, nor to cut their wages in any way.

It would, therefore, be quite appropriate that, Indian Railways should prove to be a “Model Employer” to set an example for other Employment Agencies in our country by not cutting wages of the Railwaymen by freezing bonafide payment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to the Serving and Retired Railway Employees.

I would, therefore, request your goodself to consider the above facts appropriately, and orders to freeze Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief, that has fallen due w.e.f. 1st January, 2020, and two other installments from July 2020 and January 2021, should be reviewed to provide motivation to the Railway Employees and other Central Government Employees to work with more dedication, devotion and zeal in this period of crisis.

With Kind Regards,

√Copy to: Chairman, Railway Board – for necessary action please.
√Copy to: Member(Staff), Railway Board – for necessary action please.
√Copy to: E.D.(I.R.), Railway Board – for necessary action please.
√Copy to: General Secretaries, all affiliated unions – for information.