Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has responded to the Opposition’s allegations
New Delhi:
Countering Congress’s offensive on the work situations of loco pilots, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the moment accused the Opposition of making an attempt to demoralise the Railway household with pretend information. The minister put out a submit on X, detailing how work situations of loco pilots had modified for the higher after the Narendra Modi authorities took over.
Loco pilots, Mr Vaishnaw stated, are necessary members of the railway household. “Since there’s loads of misinformation and theatrics by opposition to demotivate our Loco pilots, let me make issues very clear.”
Loco pilots are necessary members of the railway household. Since there’s loads of misinformation and theatrics by opposition to demotivate our Loco pilots, let me make issues very clear;
Improved working situations;
Obligation hours of loco pilots are rigorously monitored. Relaxation is…— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) July 10, 2024
“Obligation hours of loco pilots are rigorously monitored. Relaxation is offered meticulously after journeys. The typical responsibility hours are maintained inside prescribed hours. The typical is lower than 8 hours within the month of June this 12 months. Solely underneath exigencies, the journey length exceeds the prescribed hours,” the minister stated.
Loco cabs, from the place pilots function trains, have been in a “very dangerous form” earlier than 2014, the minister stated. “Since 2014, cabs have been improved with ergonomic seats, and greater than 7,000 loco cabs are air-conditioned. New locomotives are manufactured with AC cabs,” he stated, underlining the change underneath the BJP-led authorities.
The minister then proceeded to deal with how off-duty resting services for loco pilot had modified after 2014. “When pilots full a visit, they arrive to operating room for relaxation if they’re out of headquarters. Earlier than 2014, operating rooms have been in very dangerous form. Nearly all (558) operating rooms are actually air conditioned. In lots of operating rooms, foot massagers are additionally offered. By the way, this was criticised by Congress with out understanding the working situations of loco pilots,” he stated.
Transferring to the topic of recruitment, the minister stated 34,000 operating workers have been recruited and the method is on for getting 18,000 extra.
“The try to demoralise railway household with pretend information will fail. The complete rail parivar is united in serving our nation,” Mr Vaishnaw stated.
The Railways minister’s rebuttal comes days after Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Chief of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, stated that he met a piece of loco pilots at New Delhi station and so they complained of “lengthy working hours” and “insufficient services”.
The lives of loco pilot had “fully derailed” underneath the Narendra Modi authorities, he stated.
“Loco pilots are compelled to work 16 hours a day in simmering cabins. There is no such thing as a restrict to work hours, no depart and never even fundamental services like urinals. They’re breaking bodily and mentally and getting sick. Making them run trains underneath such situations is placing them and passengers’ lives in peril,” Mr Gandhi stated, including that the INDIA Opposition bloc will elevate this problem in Parliament. Mr Gandhi additionally posted a video of his chat with loco pilots.
Following his submit, the Railways had stated the loco pilots Mr Gandhi met weren’t from the Delhi division however have been introduced from exterior. This was, nonetheless, countered by a number of loco pilots’ associations who harassed that it was pointless to deal with divisions and zones so long as the pilots have related grievances.
Mr Gandhi’s assembly with loco pilots and the Railways minister’s rebuttal comes in opposition to the backdrop of the Opposition’s offensive in opposition to the Centre over railway accidents. The Congress authorities has been demanding Mr Vaishnaw’s resignation within the wake of the Kanchanjunga Categorical crash final month that left 10 folks lifeless.
