‘BEST AMONG FAILED’ JOB SCHEME MAY DERAIL RLYS SAFETY EFFORTS

NEW DELHI: At a time when Railways Minister Piyush Goyal is busy in holding marathon meetings to find out ways for improving the safety of the national transporter, the Railway Board’s scheme to select ‘best among failed candidates after no candidate passes the qualifying test may water down the efforts of the minister. The case relates to the appointment of assistant commercial managers (ACMS), who is responsible for managing the deployment of employees at different railway stations.

In an order dated September 29, the Railways Board has selected candidates for the job who have scored 20 per cent marks in the written test. “In the written test held for selection to the post of ASM, none of the candidates appeared for the written test has secured qualifying marks,” the order said. “However, the ST candidates who secured 20 per cent marks in the written test have been considered best suitable for the job under the “best among failed candidates” scheme,” the order stated.

Criticising the policy, experts said that when such schemes would continue to exist in Railways, safety and security measures cannot be implemented. “It sounds weird to appoint a person who is best among the failed one for managing employees engaged in handling the works of the station. The ACMS are responsible for preparing station report, which includes issuing chargesheets to ground staff of railways on dereliction of duties,” an expert said.

Experts further stated that when ‘incapable’ officials get appointed through the ‘obsolete’ scheme, just imagine the fate of employees under him.

Following the Mumbai stampede incident, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal had held a marathon meeting with members of full Railway Board & Safety Directorate of Railway Board to comprehensively review safety measures for train operations. In the meeting, the minister had emphasised that safety was paramount and there cannot be any compromise on this front.