AILRSA submitted its memorandum to Seventh
Central Pay Commission on 30.06.2014.
Concise memorandum is given here for the
readers of FIRE.
Detailed memorandum is available in our
website www.ailrsa.com
The
peculiar job attributes, working conditions, responsibilities, medical
standards, accountabilities, skill, technical knowledge etc demanded from the
Loco Running Staff to perform the unique job of driving the locomotive makes
them a distinct category.
Earlier
Pay Commissions had considered educational qualification as the only criterion
for fixing the Pay without giving any merit to the technical skill and
strenuous nature of duty performed. VI CPC had in fact enhanced the pay of
certain categories like Nurses, Constables and Postmen considering their job
nature but was unfair to the Loco Running Staff. All the Loco Running Staff
still share the resentment that their job attributes has not been given due
consideration it deserves. The successive
Pay commissions had not done any job evaluation in this regard while fixing
their pay, thus resulting in allotting inadequate scales of pay and thus
done injustice to Loco Running Staff. It is worth to mention here that the
safety consciousness of a Loco Running Staff is unique which is evident from
the Gallantry Awards presented to the Loco Running Staff on various occasions.
This
Association is representing for a very long time that the loco running staff is
a distinct category among the railway workers. This position has been endorsed
and recognised by the High Power Committee,2013 constituted by the Ministry of
Railways, in its report the committee says in the following lines elaborately in Para 4.3.1.3
in page no.67 & 68 :-
“The Running Staff is a distinct category among
the railway workers. The special features of their job which make them distinct
from other categories of staff are:
The
duty hours cannot be fixed on a regular roster basis due to the nature of their
duties which vary with the type of the train and the section worked on a
particular day. Their duty involves regular travel out of headquarters and at
times remaining out of headquarters for periods exceeding 24 hours. The duty
cycle involves frequent and irregular night working. Uncomfortable work place
and etc.”
Modernisation after VI CPC- the increase in stress level of Loco
Running Staff
In
this regard the finding of the High Power Committee is worth noticing. In Para
4.3.1.2(4) page 52, in its report ” Yet,
most of these changes have brought relief only to the stationary staff who are
working at stations, yards or in control offices and not to the running staff
for whom the stress levels have apparently gone up.”
In
the same report in page 73 observes, “Yet, at the same time, the stress level
on the Loco Pilot has gone up many times due to higher speeds, heavier loads,
continuous sustained attention for viewing and acting upon aspects of approach
signals (caused by reduction in Block section lengths and introduction of
automatic signalling) and requirement of latest technical knowledge and
technique for trouble shooting. Thus, the strain/stress on the loco pilot shifted from that of physical
nature to that of mental and this has led to a situation where the Loco
Pilot has to remain continuously attentive in something or the other while on
run. If nothing else, he has to operate the VCD every minute”.
Hence
in reality technological advancement has not eased the work of Loco Running
Staff rather increased the stress and strain on the Loco Running Staff.
The
interaction with the Loco Pilots/ Engine Crew on these trains brought out that
not only the continuous sustained attention on signals & Locomotive control
display unit is causing stress and tiredness, the continuous standing/ sitting
(on an uncomfortable seat) adds to the build up of physical fatigue which gets
aggravated due to the reason that the Loco Pilot/Engine Crew has to control even his urge to attend to nature’s call on
account of continuous running without stoppage.
It
is also worthwhile to mention the Government of India/ Ministry of Railways in
its Traction Rolling Stock/ Operation Manual vide para 1.2.3 stated that “
Driver is the only person available on a train who is technically more
competent than the other Railway Staff like TTE, Conductor, Guard etc. present
on train”. The Railway Board has also agreed in various fora that the Loco
running Staff are a class by themselves.
IT IS VIVIDLY CLEAR FROM THE ABOVE THAT THE LOCO RUNNING STAFF ARE
DISTINCT FROM OTHER STAFF AND HENCE DISTINCT HIGHER PAY STRUCTURE FOR LOCO
RUNNING STAFF IS WARRANTED.
In practice, Railways are
recruiting only the higher qualified candidates than the prescribed ie, Diploma
Engineers or Graduate Engineers considering the nature of job of the Assistant
Loco Pilot which demands a very high level of technical expertise, knowledge,
intelligence, reflexes and leadership qualities. In
fact, a minimum educational qualification of Diploma in Engineering has also
been recommended by the High Level Safety Review Committee headed by Dr. Anil
Kakodkar, Former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, vide para 6.3 of its
report dated 17th February 2012.
Despite every need to fix
the minimum qualification for Assistant Loco Pilot as Diploma in Engineering,
the same is fixed as Matriculation plus ITI by Railway Board with the sole
intention to maintain lower pay to this category.
The Assistant Loco Pilots
after Recruitment have to undergo a thorough and stringent medical examination
and must be fit in medical classification “Aye One” medical fitness, the
highest medical standard in the Indian Railways. Qualifying in an Aptitude
Test/Psycho Test, is a sine-qua-non
for empanelment and issuance of the offers of appointment. Aptitude Test
includes memory test, following direction test, depth perception test,
perpetual speed test and etc. The Assistant Loco Pilots also will have to
undergo and qualify in a rigorous training about 6 months as per training
schedule prescribed by Railway Board.
After
undergoing these intensive training programmes Assistant Loco Pilot recruited
remains no more as an ITI holder but attains the status of Diploma in
Engineering.
The duties of Assistant
Loco Pilot have under gone a sea change from 1st Central Pay
Commission to 7th Central Pay Commission. His duty is much related
with public safety and therefore, subjected to stringent punishments for even
an error in judgement on his part and often met with highest penalty of
removal, same as in the case of Loco Pilot (RB order No.99/safety(A&R)/6/1
dated 21.08.2012). So in fact in present day situation, an Assistant Loco Pilot
is virtually a CO-LOCO PILOT similar to Co-Pilot in Airways.
CONSIDERING
THE ABOVE ASSISTANT LOCO PILOT PAY SHALL BE UPGRADED TO PB2 + GP RS.4200 IN 6th
CPC SCALES AND CORRESPONDING AND APPROPRIATE PAY SCALES TO BE ALLOTED BY THE 7TH
CPC.
The
Railway Board order No.2004/M(L)/466/7101 dated:31.08.2009 regarding training
of loco pilot prescribes that Loco Pilot of Goods shall impart driving
technique and other features in train working to trainee loco pilot. Thus the
loco pilot has taken the position of driving inspector/ loco inspector with
much more responsibility and accountability by imparting training on footplate
to a trainee loco pilot in real time situation. Also loco pilots are
discharging their duties independently without any supervision.
At this juncture we call the attention of the commission on
the observation of the High Power committee in regard to the stress and
responsibility of Motor man /Loco Pilot vs Guard. We quote the observation, “The Committee members also travelled in the
Motorman’s cab and in guard's brake van on suburban trains to have a firsthand
experience of their work load and difficulties being encountered by them while
on run and came to a conclusion that the stress level of Motorman is much
higher than that of the Guard as he is required to pay more intense and
prolonged attention. Moreover, the role of a Guard in Suburban trains is not
considered to be so significant that it cannot be performed by any other
equivalent category of staff.”
In fine, in case of single man operation/motorman
it is demanded that single man operation of emu/demu/memu shall be done away
with and assistant motorman to be provided. In the case of single man operation
the duty at a stretch shall not exceed 2 ½ hours. Additional allowance for
onerous duties shall be higher than Loco Pilot (Passenger).
As
regards, Loco Pilots of Mail/Express trains,
it is seen that their working involves continuous runs at high speed over long
stretches and with responsibility of over a thousand lives travelling in these
trains. A kilometre distance is gone within less than half a minute. The
braking distance in emergency when train is moving at 100 kmph is of the order
of 750 metres or so. Therefore, Loco Pilot Passenger should
also be placed at the highest Group C Grade Pay of Rs.5400/-. Considering the
high skill required to pilot high speed trains such as Rajdhani, Shatapdi,
doronto, rdso high speed trials, vvip trains etc,. loco pilot (mail) shall be
upgraded to grade pay Rs.5400 in PB3 in
VI CPC scales and corresponding and appropriate pay scales to be alloted by the
7th CPC.
A
slight mistake or error in judgement on the part of Loco Pilot/Assistant Loco
Pilot resulting train passing signal at danger, even though not ended in any
accident, they will be visited with removal from service, as minimum punishment
is prescribed as such under Disciplinary and Appeal Rules, 1969.
The pay of
Loco Pilots shall be notionaly upgraded in VI cpc scales as follows and
corresponding pay scales as deemed fit by the 7th cpc be alloted.
ASST. LOCO PILOT / 1ST
FIREMAN PB 2 + G. PAY- RS.4200
LOCO PILOT (SHUNTING) PB2+G.PAY - RS.4600
LOCO PILOT (GOODS)
PB2+G.PAY - RS.4800
LOCO PILOT
(PASSENGER)/SrMOTORMAN PB 2 +G.PAY - RS.5400
LOCO PILOT (MAIL) PB
3 + G. PAY - RS.5400
As the Indian Railways
proposed to run Bullet Trains the pay of Loco Pilots of these trains are to be
suitably compensated.
ALLOWANCES
Uniform
Allowance
There
is widespread complaints among Loco Running Staff about quality of cloth and
inadequacy of stitching allowance. The system of procuring uniform cloth
miserably fails to ensure quality. The High Power Committee recommends to
ensure self esteem of Loco Running Staff by the way of ensuring good quality
and smart uniform to Loco Pilots and Assistant Loco Pilots (page no.296 of the
report). Further the then Hon’ble Minister of Railways Sri. Dinesh Trivedhi
also endorsed good quality of uniform to be ensured for Loco Running Staff. So
uniform allowance to be given for four pairs of premium quality cloth and
stitching charges prevailing per year.
Meal
Break Time and/or Allowance in Exigencies
In
Factory Act, Plantation Act, Inland Transport Act and Motor Vehicle Act, etc
provisions were incorporated to allow lunch time, tea time, etc such intervals
with their duty hours. In Indian Railways, there is no such intervals are
provided to Loco Pilots. There is no stop for more than two minutes allowed for
any train even in major/ Junction Stations. In this position Loco Pilot
invariably work for hours together without any meal time, tea time, etc. Hence
meal break time to be allowed in their duty schedule. In other countries, for
this, special allowance is paid. Similarly such allowance shall be paid for
Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways in exigencies.
Running
Allowance
According to the scheme,
a formula has been derived by the running allowance committee of 1980 to arrive
at the rate for 100 km, is as follows.
30% of mean of the scale of pay of Loco Pilot Passenger + 20 Days TA X 100
Monthly average kilometre of Loco Pilot Passenger
This
formula stands for the past 35 years to the satisfaction of all.
The system which was
followed for three decades was distorted by taking minimum of the pay band
instead of mean pay and not taking eligible TA for calculation of running
allowance after the implementation of VI CPC. The Running Allowance Committee
2008 has also recommended to follow the formula recommended by the Running
Allowance Committee,1980. It may please be noted that none of the Loco Pilot
Passenger in Indian Railways draw the minimum of the Pay band at Rs.9300/-. In
fact the whole of the Loco pilot passenger draws a pay in the Pay Band Rs.18000
to 24000. Calculating the running allowance with Rs.9300 is totally unjustified
and against all canons of justice and fair play. In this regard this
Association demands that atleast the Pay in the Pay Band corresponding to the
mean pay of the V CPC pay scale Rs.5500-9000 of the Loco pilot Passenger has
been taken for calculation of the running allowance.
By calculating the
running allowance rate, the TA rate applicable for Grade pay of Rs.4200/- in
which Loco Pilot Passenger falls should be taken and not the TA rate applicable
below Rs.4200/-. Therefore we request the VII CPC to look into the anomaly
crept in the calculation to arrive at the rate of Kilometerage. And also
requests to recommend that RAC 1980 formula to be followed taking the mean of
the Pay Band + Grade Pay and the present TA applicable to GP of Rs.4200 to
arrive at the rate of Kilometerage under the Running allowance scheme.
Additional Allowance(for Onerous
Duties)
The VI CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
recommended in terms of Para 7.36.50 of its report which is accepted by the
Government of India that Rs.1000/- and Rs.500/- per month be paid as additional
allowance to Loco Pilot (Mail) and Loco Pilot (Passenger) respectively.
The
Assistant Loco Pilots are attached to passenger carrying train along with Loco
Pilot (Passenger) and Loco Pilot (Mail) for the same length of run and
time. They are also facing the above
said onerous nature of work as faced by the Loco Pilots. Denying this allowance
to the Assistant Loco Pilot is unjust and discriminatory.
In the
case of Loco Pilot (Goods) the position is similar to that of Loco Pilots of
Passenger carrying trains. The duty of the Loco Pilot (Goods) is also arduous
and onerous. The Goods train having a trailing load of usually more than 6500
tonnes and length of the train 3 times higher than passenger carrying trains.
The speed of most of the Goods Trains is 100 kmph (ie.) 10-15% lesser than
passenger carrying trains. Handling of such heavy loaded trains at higher speed
is also much onerous and arduous. The post of Loco Pilot (Goods) is also having
process of selection involved.
Therefore, the two criteria considered by the VI CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION
to allow onerous duty allowance to Loco Pilot (Mail) and (Passenger) is also
existing in the case of Loco Pilot (Goods).
The Loco Pilot (Shunting) works without the assistance of ALP and alone
in the cab. That itself make the duties of Loco Pilot (Shunting) more arduous
and onerous in nature.
In view
of the facts and for the reasons stated, it is prayed that the Additional
allowance (for Onerous Duties) may be
granted to all cadres of Loco Running Staff
In addition to that still there is a grievance in
the minds of Loco Running Staff. Though the arduousness in performing
the duties, the skill, responsibility etc., the demand from the Loco Pilot is
much more than that of Guard, this is not reflected in their retirement
benefits. For the Mail Guard and the Loco Pilot Mail who retire with the same
pay and Grade Pay, their pensionary benefits will be the same, though LP(Mail)
draws Rs.500/- more as additional Allowance.
Therefore the additional
allowance (for onerous duties) may be granted to all cadres of Loco Running
Staff and this may be calculated for retirement benefits too.
Further AILRSA demanded National Holiday Allowance
(NHA), House Rent
Allowance, Enhancement of allowances on account of price rise, restoration of statutory pension and etc... On
behalf of the Loco Running Staff of Indian Railways this Association earnestly
request before the Hon’ble Seventh Central Pay Commission to have job
evaluation scientifically and then consider just pay scale to Loco Running
Staff, keeping in mind historical horizontal and vertical relativity so as to
keep the morale of staff in high pedestal and ensure efficient train operation.
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