SRMU protests against gradual privatisation of Indian Railways

Condemning the reported move by the Union government to privatise the railways in a gradual fashion, members of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union staged a demonstration in front of Tirunelveli Railway Junction on Friday

Condemning the reported move by the Union government to privatise the railways in a gradual fashion, members of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union staged a demonstration in front of Tirunelveli Railway Junction on Friday.

Led by vice-president of SRMU’s central committee Subbiah, the protesters raised slogans against the “gradual but systematic privatisation” of Indian Railways by the Union government in the past 10 years by allowing operation of private trains besides outsourcing several operations of the railways to private companies. While outsourcing the operations of Indian Railways was increasing, the country’s largest public sector undertaking was downsizing its workforce in a bid to justify the outsourcing in the guise of giving “best service” to the public, especially the commuters.

Even though outsourcing of railway operations has deteriorated the quality of service, the threat is continuing due to the anti-worker policies of the Centre. While the “genuine applications” seeking transfers are being trashed, workers and the officials were raising their voice against the injustice being meted out to get transferred to far-off places, the protesters said.

After ensuring eigh-hour duty to every worker of Indian Railways, the Union Government should give at least a day-long rest for every week to the loco pilots and the guards. After scrapping the contributory pension scheme and the unified pension scheme, the old pension scheme should be reintroduced.

Even as downsizing of workforce was going on at a feverish pitch, the existing vacancies are not filled by conducing exams through Railway Recruitment Board. “If this situation is allowed to continue, Indian Railways will perish in near future,” the speakers at the agitation said.

SRMU office-bearers Ganesan, Thamizharasan, Rajkumar, Ayyappan, and Sundar spoke.