Move to freeze rly jobs irks unions
Railway unions and job seekers are upset with the Railway Board’s decision not to create new posts except in the ‘safety’ category. The manpower planning department of the Railway Board sent a circular to inform general managers of all zones of the decision on Thursday.
The circular noted that the decision was part of an action plan for economic measures and rationalisation of expenditure. According to this plan, 50 per cent of vacancies, except for those in the safety category (which includes locomotive pilots, guards, operations and signals), would be surrendered.
Creation of posts (except in the safety category) would be frozen until further notice.
The zones have been asked to review all the posts that were created in the last two years. Jobs that face the cut will likely include those in the personnel department, accounts and other administrative departments. Observers have speculated that the action plan was necessitated by the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Railways, which has seen a major drop in revenue since March. Others, such as Railway unions, say that the decision is in line with the NDA government’s plan to privatise the Railways.
K. Sivakumar, a member of the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union, said the decision would have a long-lasting impact on the workforce.
“It is a drastic measure. Thousands of vacancies will be erased, eventually leading to a huge drop and weakening of the workforce,” he said.
Railway officials clarified that the notice would not affect recruitments that were underway. Examinations and assessments underway would be continued.
In an attempt to pacify job-seekers, the Ministry of Railways’ Twitter handle put out a statement on Friday evening: ‘Indian Railways is not going to surrender any safety category posts required for train operations & maintenance. Review is been done only for non safety category vacant posts so that addl. safety posts can be created for new Rly. Infra. Projects being developed at fast speed (sic).’