Thursday, 29 June 2023

 
    
What is 11 point programme, post Odisha Train Tragedy- Ensuring the Safety to travel by Indian Trains

India recently has experienced, the most tragic incidence in the history of Indian Railways in the current century. The incident took a toll of 290 and several hundreds were injured. In the jolt of the incidence, the Railway Engineers Federation has released an 11 Point Programme, those which are some suggestions in order to ensure the safety of passengers so as to maintain the glory of "Indian Railways". The key points covered under this programme are as follows:
Ø      More importance is to be given to safety than punctuality. If everything is safe, then punctuality can be achieved thereafter with no cost.
Ø  Sufficient blocks may be allotted for maintenance of assets without any pressure to avoid possible shortcut methods.
Ø  Outsourcing of safety works requiring specialization to be dismantled.
Ø  Weekly rest may be ensured to Railway Engineers (SSEs & JEs) except in case of extreme emergencies.
Ø  JE/SSEs should be barred from Trade Union activities at the earliest for discharging their duties more efficiently.
Ø  AIREF and its affiliated zonal associations to be taken into confidence for decision making.
Ø  JE/SSEs to be empowered suitably through delegation of power to handle day to day maintenance works smoothly.
Ø  To reduce overload/overstress fresh JE/SSE along with supporting staff to be recruited as per Railway Board immediately against vacant posts and as per increased assets.
Ø  Sanctioning of leaves to JE/SSEs to be done smoothly except in case of emergencies.
Ø  Technical qualification to be made compulsory for station masters to deal with latest technologies.
Ø  Immediate review and implementation of recommendations of previous Safety Committees i.e. Khanna Committee, Task Force on Safety, etc.
(JE- Junior Engineer, SSE- Senior Section Engineer)
 
The programme covers both the technical and non technical aspects that may ensure the safety of the passengers enjoying the journey through one of the biggest rail network of the world.
By Vaibhav Rajdeep,
eleganceias.blogspot.com