EFFORTS MADE AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN’S FEDERATION AND ITS AFFILIATED UNIONS FOR HANDICAPPED RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
All India Railwaymen’s Federation and its affiliated unions have all along paid due attention towards genuine problems of Handicapped Railway Employees and have made serious efforts at various levels for redressal thereof.
AIRF pursued the Ministry of Railways to launch a special drive to fill-up all the vacant posts earmarked against Handicapped Quota, as a result of which, Railway Board issued instructions to all the zonal railways vide letter No.E(NG)II/2006/RC-2/11 Pt. IV dated 01.05.2012(RBE No.59/2012), and accordingly Special Recruitment Drive was undertaken by the zonal railways etc.
AIRF has also been pressing hard the Railway Board to secure reservation for the persons with disabilities in promotions. (Ref. AIRF’s PNM Item No.14/2008)
AIRF has demanded to appoint wards of the deceased railway employees/medically de-categorized employee, the wards having 20% and above physical disability against Physically Handicapped Quota(Ref.: AIRF’s PNM Item No.22/2010 & 22/2012).
Vide its PNM Item No.01/2009 AIRF demanded grant of Family Pension to physically/mentally disabled children of Railway employees, which has since been allowed vide Railway Board’s letter No.2009/ACII/21/3 dated 25.02.2010(RBE No.03/2010). AIRF has also secured Special Provision of Endorsement in the PPOs for Handicapped dependent wards of the retiring railway employees.
On the persuasions of AIRF, VI CPC has recommended additional benefit of 4 days leave in the form of Special Casual Leave to Railway employees with disabilities.(Ref. Railway Board’s letter No.E(NG)2008 LE 1/4 dated 26.12.2008(RBE No.201/2008).
Arrangements for providing ramp, special toilets and other facilities have also been made on persuasions of AIRF and its affiliates at all the work places for the convenience of Handicapped Railway Employees.
Motorized Chairs and Wheel Chairs as well have been procured through Staff Benefit Fund for the assistance of handicapped employees.
The handicapped railway employees were being subjected to medical re-examination in railway hospitals while allotting accommodation against Handicapped Quota, this practice has been discontinued on the persuasions of AIRF’s affiliated unions.
Special Employees Camps for Handicapped Railway Employees have been started on the demand of AIRF and its affiliates.
All the facilities, as provided for by the Ministry of Railways to Handicapped Employees, have been ensured on the Zonal Railways by the AIRF and its affiliates, like exemption from Type Test on promotion etc.
AIRF vide its PNM Item No.46/2012 has represented the issues – (i) Payment of Running Allowance to medically de-categorized Running Staff kept on supernumerary posts, (ii) Fixation of pay of medically de-categorized Running Staff while kept on supernumerary posts – Grant of benefits of Running Allowance.
Vide PNM Item No.53/2012, AIRF has also demanded provision of compassionate ground appointment in place of medically de-categorized railway employees as also appointment on compassionate grounds to the wards/spouse of medically decategorized staff on the Railways(AIRF’s PNM Item No.42/2006).
AIRF vide PNM Item No.45/2006 had also represented for employment to medically unfitted direct recruits in alternative categories.
These are but a few illustrative actions taken by the AIRF and its affiliates for the betterment of Handicapped Railway Employees.
Source: AIRF
