NFIR to go on nation-wide protest tomorrow

Vijayawada, Jan 30: National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) has announced a nation-wide protest on Tuesday, demanding to fill several posts in railways.

"There are 2.40 lakh posts lying vacant in various cadres in railways, out of which, 1.20 lakh vacancies are in safety cadres like drivers and guards," NFIR General Secretary M Raghavaih told reporters here today.

"Due to the unfilled posts, the existing staff is overburdened with work and is under stress, which has resulted in health problems for many of them," he said.

He alleged that most of the employees in safety cadre are forced to work for more than 12 hours instead of the regular 8 hours. Expressing unhappiness over the attitude of the railway administration, Raghavaih said that even though the union has been demanding the posts to be filled up as soon as possible, "the demand is falling on deaf ears".

PTI