Uniform Pension Scheme to retiring Railway employees at par with the ex-servicemen- reg.
NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to :
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
lnternational Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
No. IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL
Dated: 06/09/2015
Shri Narendra Modi,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of lndia,
South Block,
Raisina Hills,
New Delhi
Respected Sir,
Sub:
Uniform Pension Scheme to retiring Railway employees at par with the ex-servicemen-reg.
At the outset, the National Federation of Indian Railwayemn (NFIR)
thanks the Government for conceding to the demand of ex-servicemen for
introduction of “One Rank – One pension” for them.
In this connection, Iwould invite your kind attention to the case of
Railway employees numbering over 1.3 million as placed below:-
The Railway employees have been subjected to injustice as a result of
introduction of New Pension Scheme (which is a contributory pension
scheme) with effect from 01/01/2004. Consequently those employees
who.joined railways on and after 01/01/2004 are governed by the
contributory pension scheme with present nomenclature “New pension
System” (NPS).
Presently, there are two sections of Rail Workforce – one governed by
the Liberalized pensior Scheme (applicable to pre 0l/01/2004
appointees) and the other one governed by the contributory pension
scheme i.e. NPS applicable to post 0l/0l/2O04 appointees.
Since 2004, NFIR has been pressing the Government of lndia and the
Ministry of Railways to withdraw New Pension Scheme as the duties and
responsibilities of Railway employees are very complex, complicated and
their working conditions are arduous as they perform duties at remote
places extremist infested areas, jungle areas, without any supply chain.
Vast percentage of Railway employees cannot afford to have timely
medicines. social life, schooling facilities etc., Pursuant to the
discussions held with the Railway Ministry on our pending demand seeking
abolition of New Pension scheme in Railways, the then Railway Minister
shri Mallikarjun Kharge had agreed with the demand and accordingly he
had sent a communication to the Finance Minister on 29/03/2014 duly
explaining the nature of duties of the Railway employees and seeking
Government’s approval for exempting the Railway employees from the NPS
whereby they can be governed by the Liberalized Pension Scheme. This
issue is continued to remain unresolved.
For your kind appreciation. I mention here that according to the
report of the Dr, Anil Kakodkar committee, submitted to the Railway
Ministry in the year 2012. the death rate of Railway employees in the
course of performing duties was much larger than the public. I quote
below the figures given by the High Level Safety Review Committee headed
by Dr. Kakodkar.
|
Killed |
Injured |
| (a) Railway employees |
1600 |
8700 |
| (b) Passenger/Public |
1019 |
2110 |
| (c) Unmanned Level crossing |
723 |
690 |
The above position reveals that the Railway employees killed during
the period 2001 – 08 to 2011 were 1600 while those injured on duty were
8700. This figure would convince that the duties of Railway
employees cannot be treated as less arduous in comparison with the
defence and para-military forces. Like armed forces, Railway employees
are expected to remain at their place of ‘posting even during periodic
rest and they cannot afford to leave the headquarters and they perform
duties under open sky facing inclement weather conditions and ensure
running of trains round the clock.
It would therefore, be necessary to exempt Railway employees from the New Pension System (NPS).
2. Need to provide Uniform Pension Scheme or One Rank – One Pension to Rail Workforce:
The Railway employees discharge their duties round the clock by
shifts and over 85% staff work in remote places where no human life
exists. Their duties are safety-oriented. They are facing continuous
stress and strain in the course of performing Train passing duties
causing health hazards leading to pre-mature death, medical invalidation
at a scale larger than the armed/para-military forces. The demand for
introduction of Uniform Pension Scheme to Railway employees of the same
rank regardless of their date of retirement deserves consideration like
that of retiring armed personnel.
I therefore, request you to kindly see that the Government accords
approval, exempting Railway employees from the New Pension System for
the purpose of covering them under the Liberalized Pension Scheme. I
also request that “One Rank – One Pension” Scheme i.e. uniform pension
for Railway employees retiring in the same rank regardless of their
retirement may kindly be approved by the Government, considering the
fact that Railway personnel are serving the nation, transporting
military hardware and the army to the borders and ensuring uninterrupted
movement of rail transport services at all times round the clock in all
weather conditions.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
Source:
NFIR
