NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD,NEW DELHI – 110 055
Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
No.IV/NPS/PFRDA BILL
Dated: 06-09-2015
Shri Narendra Modi,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
Respected Sir,
Sub: Uniform Pension Scheme to retiring Railways employees at par with ex-servicemen – reg.
At the outset, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR)
thanks the Government for conceding to the demand of ex-Servicemen for
introduction of “One Rank – One Pension” for them.
In this connection, I would 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 pension Scheme (applicable to pre 01-01-2004 appointees)
and the other one governed by the contributory pension scheme i.e. NPS
applicable to post 01.01.2004 appointees. Since 2004, NFIR has been
pressing the Government of India 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 Ministry 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 courses 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 2007-08 to 2011 were 1600 while those injured on duty were 8700.
This figure would convince that the duties of Railway employee 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 discharges 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. The 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/Par-Military forces. The demand for introduction
of Uniform Pension Scheme to Railway employees of the same rank
regardless of their date of retirement deserve 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,
Sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary.
Source: NFIR
September 18, 2015
Kalaivaraikalai
