There will be direct action if orders for payment of PLB to railwaymen aren’t issued by 20th Oct. -Shivgopal Mishra

“Railwaymen are not responsible for the bad condition of the Indian Railways, therefore, their DA/DR should be released without any further delay”

New Delhi : In the Virtual Standing Committee Meeting of AIRF, held on 16.10.2020, it was decided that, if orders for payment of PLB to Railwaymen are not issued by the Railway Ministry (Govt of India) by 20th October, 2020, then direct action shall be launched on 22nd October, 2020.

In the Meeting, all the Office Bearers and Zonal Secretaries of AIRF, expressed serious anguish over anti-labour policies of the Government and demanded direct action.

In the said meeting, there was serious debate on the issues of Privatisation, Outsourcing and Corporatisation in the Railways, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, releasing of Dearness Allowance, Dearness Relief and payment of Productivity Linked Bonus to Railwaymen.

Speaking on the occasion, Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of AIRF said, “During Covid-19 Pandemic, Railwaymen worked 24X7 without caring about the epidemic, but the Government is ignoring this legitimate demand of the Railway Employees”.

He further said that, the file related to PLB has been sent by the Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) to Finance Ministry, but Ministry of Finance is not clearing it and adopting indifferent attitude in this regard.

He added that, payment of PLB has always been made before “Durga Pooja”, but this time this was not done so far, resulting in serious resentment and unrest amongst the Railwaymen.

He further said that, in the Standing Committee Meeting, it was decided that, if orders for payment of PLB to the Railwaymen (the legitimate right) are not issued by the Railway Ministry by 20th October, 2020, then direct action shall be launched on 22nd October, 2020.

“Railwaymen worked day and night with full dedication and devotion for transporting migrant workers and ensuring smooth supply of the essential commodities and medical equipments, etc. etc., from one corner to another in the country, but the government, taking benefit of the Coronavirus, was moving fast in the direction of handing over 150 trains on 109 important routes to private train operators and freezing of Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief of the Railwaymen.

Critisizing this decision of the Government, Mishra said that “Railwaymen are not responsible for the bad condition of the Indian Railways, therefore, their Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief should be released without any further delay”.

He further stated that, it was also decided to form “Save Railway-Save Nation Campaign Committees” at all the 7600 Railway Stations throughout the country. Local rail users, other prominent personalities shall also be involved in formation of the said committees to create an effective atmosphere to halt the policies of Privatisation/Corporatisation in Indian Railways.

While speaking on the occasion, Venu P. Nair, Asstt. General Secretary, Amit Ghosh, Vice President, Ch. Sankara Rao, AGS, Mukesh Galav, AGS, S.N.P. Srivastava, VP, P. K. Patsahani, VP, Mukesh Mathur, AGS, A. M. D’Cruz, AGS, J. R. Bhosale, Treasurer, C.A. Rajasridhar, VP, R. C. Sharma, AGS, Basant Chaturvedi, Zonal Secretary/NERMU, Asish Biswas, ZS/NFRMU expressed serious anguish and demanded direct action.