Railway station masters of Thiruvananthapuram division for leave' agitation
The SMs are forced to work continuously for over 24 hours at a stretch.
Kochi: A major section of railway station masters of the Thiruvananthapuram division will go on a “one-day leave agitation” on Tuesday in protest against the authorities' “refusal” to fill up vacant posts. An official, however, said the train operations would not be affected as the railways had rejected their leave requests. “The agitation is being held to call the attention of the authorities concerning our three demands – filling up of vacant posts, posting of additional station masters and seniority postings. Upon the authorities turning a blind eye, we’ll organise a 'bell ringing' agitation at the divisional railway manager’s office on July 31,” said Vinu T., divisional secretary, All India Station Masters’ Association.
"There are 45 vacancies of SM posts in the division. So many vacancies in the safety category directly dealing with the safety of running trains are highly risky. The SMs are forced to work continuously for over 24 hours at a stretch. Even sick persons are compelled to come to duty with the railway doctors refusing to provide a medical certificate. We’ve complained to the state medical council on the violation of medical ethics.”
The association also demanded the posting of additional station masters at all panel-interlocked stations on the double line and at those single line stations where the line capacity utilisation exceeds 85 percent. “There is a railway board order of 2002 in this regard,” a statement said. The railway authorities, meanwhile, said the recruitment process was in progress.
