Sub: Appeal for Rejection of Recommendations of Dr. Bibekdebroy Committee Report

INDIAN RAILWAYS TECHNICAL SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION
(Estd. 1965, Regd. No.1329, Website )
M. Shanmugam,
Central President, IRTSA
# 4, Sixth Street, TVS Nagar, Padi,
Chennai - 600050.
Email-
Mob:09443140817 / / Harchandan Singh,
General Secretary, IRTSA,
C.Hq. 32, Phase 6, Mohali,
Chandigarh-160055.

(Ph:0172-2228306, 9316131598)
No:IRTSA/ / Date:

Resolution

Sub: Appeal for Rejection of recommendations of Dr. BibekDebroy Committee Report.

Mass meeting of Technical Supervisors / Rail engineers held on ------at ------expressed its deep anguish over the recommendations of Dr. BibekDebroy Committee constituted by Indian Railways whichsubmitted its Report recently for Mobilization of Resources for Major Railway Projects and Restructuring of Railway Ministry and Railway Board.

Observations ofBibekDebroy Committee Report ignored by Committee itself:

Committee observed the following major handicap of Railways:

a) Railways not allowed fixing its own fare structure based on actual operational cost.

b) Many projects are enforced on Railways on regional, political & social consideration rather than commercial viability.

c) Non allocation of meaningful fund to complete projects within stipulated time.

d) Gauge conversion due to uni-gauge policy, Railways is required to invest heavily on already existing routes, diminishing chances for Railways to expand its route length.

e) Concessions in fare due to social & political decision are not compensated by Government.

f) Operation of branch lines and suburban section which are not viable even to get the operation cost, leave alone return on capital invested.

g) Railways is not allowed to increase the fares even to the extent of increase in fuel cost.

h) Very minimum autonomy given to functional heads like GM and DRM, etc, the aim & objective of recommendations of the committee is for full privatization Indian Railways.

Ignoring all the above observations, the Committee totally diverted from these aspects and made such ignonomous, impractical anti-employee recommendations which need an out right rejection and absolute condemnation by the Minstry of Railways.

Major flaws in BibekDebroy Committee Report

Dr. BibekDebroyCommittees’ recommendations on unbundling the activities of Indian Railways, setting up of independent RRAI with quasi-judicial power but without any accountability, setting up of Indian Railway Manufacturing Company (IRMC), bringing back licensing regulations, opening all activities including manufacturing & maintenance of rolling stocks & locos, assets creation, train operation with the independence of fixing their own tariff rates, private owing of train formations & their maintenance, opening DFCCIL to private operators even without seeking permission from Railways, dismantling medical activities being carried out by Indian Railways, closing down of Railway Protection Force, lateral entry for higher level management posts, reorganization of existing structure without minding the advantages of specialization it possess now, etc are only aiming at complete privatization of Railways which need to be stopped.

Major demands arising out of Dr. BibekDebroy Committee Report

Out right rejection ofDr.BibekDebroy Committee Report.
Don’t separate Production Units from Indian Railways in the name of Indian Railway Manufacturing Company (IRMC) which will end-up 100% privatisation.
Railways should remain as pure public entity.
Don’t unbundle the activities of Indian Railways.
IR should not be scaled down in favour of private entrepreneurs.
No surrender of posts.
No for private rail operators.
No FDI for Railways.
SPV is only a mode for private entry which should not be permitted.
All the Joint ventures should be under the control of Indian Railways.
Indian Railways should be exempted from paying dividend to Government.
Don’t create proposed Railway Regulatory Authority of India (RRAI).
Govt. should allow level playing field for Indian Railways with National Highway Authority of India.
Allocation of meaningful fund to complete projects within stipulated time.
Don’t compel Railways to hand over Dedicated Freight Corridor to private operators.
Railways should be allowed to fix its own fare structure based on actual operational cost.
Social service obligations of Rs. 25,000 crores every year shouldered by IR should be compensated by Government – from Centre or State Revenue.
Concessions in fare due to social obligation & political decision should be compensated by Government– from Centre or State Revenue
Operation cost of branch lines and suburban section should be subsidized by state Govts
Meaningful autonomy to functional heads like GM, CAO, DRM etc.
Divisions & Zones should be given with more autonomy in particularly operational & financial fronts for enhanced performance.
GMs & PHODs of Production units of Indian Railways should be given with fixed tenure and sufficient autonomy.
No closing down of huge well established Indian Railway medical network spread across the country with 125 hospitals, 586 health units, serving 65 lakh beneficiaries.
Cost of Policing should be funded by concerned state Governments.
RPF should remain with Railways.
Opening up the Railways to private sector will make it beyond the reach of common people as happened in Health & Education sectors.
Accept the fact that overall international experience on private sector participation in Railways does not ease out Government funding on Railways.
Senior Supervisors of Technical Departments are required to perform multitasking functions including managerial functions should be made part of Junior Management cadre (Gaz).
Appropriate action to restore the status associated with functioning of senior supervisors.

The meeting urged upon the Government not to act on the recommendations of Dr. BibekDebroy Committee Report and reject the same out rightly.

Zonal Secretary, IRTSA

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Copy for information and favourable consideration:

1)Honb’le Minister for Railways.

2)Chairman Railway Board.

3)General Manger