Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 31: General Secretary of Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU), BC Sharma today visited various construction offices of Railways located at Katra, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramnagar, Manwal and Bajalta and took stock of the grievances of the railway workers.
Sharma also visited houses of the railway workers and enquired about their problems. At Katra Railway Station, he also inaugurated office of the Union. He was accompanied by Delhi Mandal general secretary, DK Chawla, SK Sahu, PD Sharma and other leaders.
In his visit, he found railway quarters in deteriorated condition in which doors, windows and boundary walls were found broken. The most pathetic condition of the quarters of the railway men were in Railway Colony, Ramnagar. At Katra, Sharma found the Railway Hospital in pathetic condition.
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The railway workers told Sharma that till date no Railway officer or Supervisor came to inspect conditions of Railway Colonies whereas various senior officers of the Railway usually come from Delhi to inspect Katra Railway Station.
Later, speaking to media at Jammu, Sharma told that the Union recently observed hunger strike for 10 consecutive days in Delhi to press the Central Government to exempt Railway employees from NPS. On LARGESS Scheme, he said that presently the case is in Supreme Court but Railway Board has directed all the Railways to submit all applications pending upto October 2017 under the scheme to it so that decision may be taken on them.
He further told that Railway Minister has agreed to increase the Kilometere Allowance of Running Staff from 2.50 p to 5.25 p and has sent the proposal to Finance Ministry for approval. “Moreover, Risk Allowance Committee have been constituted and deliberations are on to include left out categories,” he added.
Sharma further told that the Minister has approved the proposal to revise Track Maintainers’ ration at 10:20:20:50 in 6th CPC GP 2800, 2400, 1900 and 1800, respectively.
Besides others, Sharma was accompanied by Divisional Secretary of Ferozpur Mandal, Rajesh, president, manohar Lal Prasher, Assistant Divisional Secretary and Branch Secretary, Jammu, Ram Kumar and Branch president, Ludhiana, Ajay Kumar.