No. AIRF/60
Dated: January 8, 2026
Hon’ble Minister for Finance,
Ministry of Finance
(Government of India)
New Delhi
Respected Madam,
Sub: Request for making provision of certain important facilities in the ensuing Rail Budget
All India Railwaymen’s Federation, representing around one million Railway Employees in India, would, with due veneration, invite your kind attention towards the following:
(i) Augmentation of Railway Healthcare System
There has been tremendous development in Medical Science, with the result that there are now specialised doctors in various fields of healthcare. Railway Healthcare System is, however, lagging a lot in augmenting and streamlining healthcare services due to various reasons. It is being observed that, despite augmentation and streamlining of Divisional Railway Hospitals and Primary Health Units, there is further deterioration in healthcare services because of non-availability of regular qualified Medical Officers as well as qualified Paramedical Staff in some of the Primary Health Units, Sub-Divisional Hospitals and Divisional Hospitals in the Railways.
Even Divisional Railway Hospitals do not have specialised doctors in common medical fields such as Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Cardiology, Pulmonology, etc. Dental care is also gaining importance day-by-day, but most of the Railway Health Units do not have such facilities.
UMID Cards issued to Railway Medical Beneficiaries are entertained only by a handful of referral hospitals, and even there, many corporate hospitals refuse to entertain such beneficiaries. On the other hand, CGHS Card holders are allowed treatment in the majority of specialised hospitals without any hurdle.
It would therefore be appropriate that adequate funds are allocated for augmenting and streamlining Railway Healthcare Services, right from Primary Health Units to Divisional Units and Central Hospitals of Indian Railways. Further, Railway Medical Beneficiaries should also be allowed to avail treatment facilities in hospitals where CGHS Card holders are already permitted.
(ii) Enhancement in the per-capita allotment under Staff Benefit Fund (SBF)
Per-capita allotment under the Staff Benefit Fund was last revised in the year 2014 (vide Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)2014/FU-1/1 dated 30.07.2014 – RBE No. 83/2014). However, the same allocation is being continued for quite some time.
It may be appreciated that market inflation during this period has increased significantly, with the result that the per-capita amount allocated under the Staff Benefit Fund has become quite insufficient to meet requirements under different specified heads.
AIRF, therefore, earnestly requests that, keeping in view the prevailing market inflation, the per-capita allocation under the Staff Benefit Fund be revised upward in commensurate with present market conditions.
(iii) Provision of healthcare facilities for parents of Railway Employees
A large number of parents of Railway Employees, having no adequate source of income, are totally dependent on their children who are in Railway Service. Although some Government Departments have already made provisions for extending medical assistance to parents of their employees, Indian Railways, as a welfare measure, should also consider healthcare facilities for the needy parents of Railway Employees.
Provision for the same may kindly be made in the ensuing Rail Budget, which is already subsumed in the General Budget.
With kind regards,
Sincerely yours,
(Sd/-)
Shiva Gopal Mishra
General Secretary
Copy to:
- CRBE & CEO, Railway Board – for necessary action please.
- Member (Finance), Railway Board – for necessary action please.
- General Secretaries, All Affiliated Unions – for information.
