Recommendations of 7th CPC – Payment of Risk & Hardship Allowance for Track Maintainers working in construction s organization.

NFIR

No. IV/NFIR/7 CPC (Imp)/2016/Allowance/Part II

Dated: 24/12/2018

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Recommendations of 7th CPC – Payment of Risk & Hardship Allowance for Track Maintainers working in construction s organization – Reg.

Ref: (i) Railway Board’s letter No.87/2017) No. PC-VIII/ 2017/I7/5/4 dated 1/08/2017 (RBE (P), E.C. Railway vide letter

(ii) Railway Board’s clarification issued to GM No. PC-VII/ 2017/I7/5/4 dated 25/10/2018.

Federation desires to bring to the kind notice of Railway Board that consequent to the acceptance of recommendations of 7th CPC relating to grant of Risk & Hardship Allowance to Track Maintainers, the Railway Board vide letter dated 10/0812017 (RBE No. 87/2017) issued instructions to the GMs of Zonal Railways to grant Risk & Hardship Allowance to the Track Maintainers of Indian Railways as per Cell R3 H2 of Risk and Hardship Matrix @ Rs 2700/- p.m. per person. The 7th CPC in its ;eport mentioned that the “Track Maintainers-I, II, III and IV of lndian Railways should be granted Risk & Hardship Allowance in view of hardship faced by these categories of employees”.

It has however been brought to the notice ofthe Federation that on a reference received from GM (p), E.C. Railway, thelailway Board vide letter dated25ll0l2018 addressed to GM (p), E.C. Railway, has clarified that the Track Maintainers working in Construction Oiganizations are not eligible for grant of Risk and Hardship Allowance. Federation does not agiee with the unjustifieJ view taken by the Railway Board and the same is unacceptable to NFIR due to the following reasons:-

• Track Maintainer is essentially required to work on Rail tracks, whether under Open line or in the Constructions Organizations.
• In the Construction Organization, the Track Maintainers are required to perform duties of laying of rails, sleeper, points, and crossing in a programmed way and for completing work within targeted periods. Hardship and Risk is involved in their duties.
• It needs to be appreciated that the Track Maintainer by designation, has been granted Risk and Hardship Allowance, therefore denying Risk and Hardship Allowance to the desisnated Track Maintainers working in Construction Organizations is improper.

The duties performed by the Track Maintainers working in Construction organization as mentioned above justify payment of Risk and Hardship Allowance in accordance with Board’s instructions dated 10/0812017 (RBE No. 87/2017). The erroneous clarification of the Railway Board vide letter dated 25/10/2018 therefore needs to be withdrawn immediately.

NFIR, therefore, requests the Railway Board to review the case and withdraw Board’s letter dated 25110/2018. Action taken in the matter may be apprised to the Federation.

Yours faithfully

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR