“Attempt to Demoralise”: Railways Minister Rebuts Rahul Gandhi on Loco Pilots’ Working Conditions

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has responded to the allegations made by the Opposition regarding the working conditions of loco pilots. In a recent post, the minister countered the Congress’s claims by highlighting the improvements made in the working conditions of loco pilots since the Narendra Modi government took over.

Loco pilots are an essential part of the railway family, and the minister emphasized that it is crucial to set the record straight amidst the misinformation and theatrics spread by the Opposition to demoralize them. The minister pointed out that the duty hours of loco pilots are carefully monitored, and rest is provided meticulously after trips. The average duty hours are maintained within the prescribed hours, with an average of less than 8 hours in June this year. Only in exceptional circumstances do the trip durations exceed the prescribed hours.

The minister also highlighted the significant improvements made in the loco cabs, from where pilots operate trains. Before 2014, the cabs were in a poor condition, but since then, they have been upgraded with ergonomic seats, and over 7,000 loco cabs are now air-conditioned. New locomotives are manufactured with AC cabs, showcasing the progress made under the BJP-led government.

Regarding off-duty resting facilities for loco pilots, the minister stated that before 2014, running rooms were in a poor state. However, almost all (558) running rooms are now air-conditioned, and many even provide foot massagers. This improvement was criticized by the Congress without understanding the working conditions of loco pilots.

The minister also discussed the recruitment process, stating that 34,000 running staff have been recruited, and the process is ongoing to recruit 18,000 more. He emphasized that the attempt to demoralize the railway family with fake news will fail, and the entire rail family is united in serving the country.

This rebuttal comes in response to Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, who met a section of loco pilots at New Delhi station and claimed that they complained of “long working hours” and “inadequate facilities”. Gandhi alleged that the lives of loco pilots had “completely derailed” under the Narendra Modi government, stating that they are compelled to work 16 hours a day in poor conditions, with no limit to work hours, no leave, and no basic facilities. He also posted a video of his conversation with the loco pilots.

The Railways had responded by stating that the loco pilots Gandhi met were not from the Delhi division but were brought from outside. However, several loco pilots’ associations countered this by saying that it is pointless to focus on divisions and zones as long as the pilots have similar grievances.

This development comes against the backdrop of the Opposition’s offensive against the Centre over railway accidents. The Congress government has been demanding Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s resignation following the Kanchanjunga Express crash last month that left 10 people dead.

Key Points:

• Duty hours of loco pilots are carefully monitored, with an average of less than 8 hours in June this year.
• Loco cabs have been improved with ergonomic seats and air-conditioning.
• Off-duty resting facilities have been upgraded, with almost all running rooms now air-conditioned.
• 34,000 running staff have been recruited, and the process is ongoing to recruit 18,000 more.
• The attempt to demoralize the railway family with fake news will fail, and the entire rail family is united in serving the country.

Historical Context:

The article refers to the Narendra Modi government, which has been in power since 2014. The Kanchanjunga Express crash, which left 10 people dead, is also mentioned, which occurred recently. The Congress party has been demanding the resignation of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over the incident.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has responded to allegations made by the Opposition regarding the working conditions of loco pilots, highlighting improvements made since the Narendra Modi government took over. • The minister emphasized that duty hours of loco pilots are carefully monitored, with an average of less than 8 hours in June this year, and rest is provided meticulously after trips. • Loco cabs have been upgraded with ergonomic seats and air-conditioning, with over 7,000 cabs now air-conditioned. • Off-duty resting facilities have been improved, with almost all running rooms now air-conditioned, and many providing foot massagers. • 34,000 running staff have been recruited, and the process is ongoing to recruit 18,000 more. • The minister stated that the attempt to demoralize the railway family with fake news will fail, and the entire rail family is united in serving the country. • The controversy comes against the backdrop of the Opposition’s offensive against the Centre over railway accidents, with the Congress demanding the resignation of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following the Kanchanjunga Express crash.