NFIR demands interim-relief of Rs 1,000 per month

Mumbai, Aug 11 (UNI) The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) today demanded the Union Government to advise sixth pay commission to recommend interim relief of Rs 1,000 per month to the railway employees within three months.

NFIR General Secretary M Raghavaiah told mediapersons, ''There is a wide gap in the wages between Central Government employees and those working in the public sector undertaking grant. To reduce the gap, Government should advise the commission to recommend first interim relief.'' He said railway employees are getting Rs 2,370 less salary compared to other core sectors like Banking, LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India). Hence to minimise the gap, the commission should announce first interim relief.

Mr Raghavaiah claimed the government is moving towards privatisation in Railways by outsourcing and privatising of certain activities, despite railway ministry's repeated pronouncements that privatisation will not be resorted to on Indian Railways.

The training modules in the Indian Railways is required to modify for doubling the work production, he said and added that the NFIR has already suggested the railway board to set up training institutes to increase the efficiency of the workers.

Over 40,000 additional posts are required to be created for the creation or introduction of new trains and assets by the Government.

The Union has also demanded a reduction in duty hours of running staff, as it leads to stress and strain on them due to train load, speed and inter-divisional work without stoppage, he added.

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