A research by the Analysis Design and Requirements Organisation (RDSO), which capabilities underneath the Railway Ministry, has discovered that prepare controllers face a number of challenges at work together with “unattractive” pay scale, large stress as a consequence of emptiness resulting in well being considerations, and a scarcity of primary facilities.
The report, which was submitted to the Railway Board lately, mentioned part controllers carry out high-strain jobs, their activity made tougher by round emptiness up-to 20%, medically de-categorised officers posted within the division and the absence of applicable reward both when it comes to cash, or esteem and profession development.
Titled ‘The challenges faced by Section Controllers in carrying out their duties effectively’ the report goals at exploring enhancements in choice process, coaching, and infrastructures for enhancing the effectivity and effectiveness of prepare operations.
“This mammoth activity is controlled by 68 operation centers over the IR network called the Divisional Control Office,” the report says. The Divisional Management Workplace, located at divisional headquarters, performs a significant function in the complete operation of the railway community.
The rail community in a division is subdivided into sections consisting of a number of stations. “The trains running over these sections are controlled and monitored by the Section Controllers working round the clock in shift duties on the Control board,” the report mentions.
The RDSO workforce collected information from varied divisional management places of work and located that there are vacancies starting from 15 to 24%.
“High vacancy in the cadre ultimately affects the working condition of the staff on roll. Under strenuous conditions, the quality of work also suffers. Administration also faces difficulty in managing the rest and leave of the staff. Therefore, vacancy in the cadre should be analysed on priority and effort should be made to fill up the vacancy,” the report factors out.
It says part controllers work 24×7 their shifts can’t be left unmanned.
“As per the roaster, Section Controller requires 30 hrs of weekly rest. But in the absence of adequate number of staff, sometimes the administration faces problems in arranging weekly rest or leave to Section Controllers. In a continuous work schedule, they feel burned out and their productivity gets affected,” the report provides.
Whereas figuring out the explanations for the scarcity of part controllers, the report mentioned 75% of the posts are stuffed by way of choice from the feeder cadre of Station Masters (55%), prepare managers (10%) and prepare clerks (10%).
“The initial grade pay of Section Controllers has been made identical with the Station Masters grade pay (L/6) in the VIIth CPC. While, earlier the initial pay of Section Controllers was a grade higher (L/6) than the pay of SMs (L/5) and therefore, SMs were interested in applying for the post,” the research says.
“But in the present selection process, there is reluctance from the SMs category to apply for the post of Section Controllers due to lack of any substantial financial gain. This situation has led to the shortage of staff in the Section Controller cadre resulting in further stress on the working strength of the Section Controllers,” it provides.
Expressing concern over the present observe of inducting “medically de-categorized” workers within the management division as part controllers, the research says, “A person with any medical condition or handicap will have some restricting working condition where that person will be unable to meet the demand of the job.”
The research has advised a number of measures equivalent to upgradation within the preliminary pay scale from grade pay 4,200 to grade pay 4,600 to make them extra engaging for the feeder class candidates, introduction of an inherent ability check within the recruitment/choice, extension within the period of coaching interval.
The workforce has additionally advised the Railway Board reintroduce direct recruitment of part controllers by way of the Railway Recruitment Board which was discontinued in 2020.
It additionally mentioned no controller needs to be allowed to work with out present process the periodical refresher programs, the Research mentioned.
