Rly Board constitutes CIG to overhaul sorry state of railway colonies

Rly Board constitutes CIG to overhaul sorry state of railway colonies

IN a bid to overhaul the sorry state of affairs in railway colonies. Railway Board has overhauled the system of maintenance of railway colonies by constituting Colony Inspection Group (CIG). The new concept is meant to replace existing Colony Committees and colony inspection committees. Though broadly the work is more or less same Railway Board has just changed the nomenclature of committee with group, because the basic mandate of maintenance is going to remain with Engineering Branch. As per new decision, a group of senior officers would now oversee the maintenance as colonies where Group C and Group D employees resides. The current situation in these colonies revealsasifno system functions there and maintenance is virtually nil going by ground situation. With new Government making strong pitch for cleanliness. Railway Board swung into action and invented new mechanism. Railway Board while issuing the circular about the new system for maintenance has rightly pointed out at the outset that lack of finances and old age of quarters, vacancies and inadequate training facilities to staff as some of the challenges that are sought to be overcome. A three member committee was constituted at Board level and its report pitched for multi-member committee. The Board circular mentioned that Colony Inspection Group would be set-up ai those colonies which have 200 or more quarters at Zonal/Divisional level, colonies located at station where ADEN is Headquarters and colonies located at road side stations. The CIG would be broad based having one officer each from Accounts. Personnel. Security  & Telecommunication with Personnel Branch being given the mandate for Co-ordination. Apart from that Unions too can nominate their nominees who reside in that colonies and the CIG would meet once every three month to take stock of situation. The circular also framed Terms of References for CIG that includes. repairs lo ensure structural integrity of building, repair lo leaky roof. repair to outside door and windows, maintenance of proper water supply, proper sanitation and drainage arrangements, repair to floorings, maintenance of pathways, fencing and others. Other than that the Committee would also tasked with improvement to substandard quarters, prevention of encroachments etc.

The Committee has powers to recommend the staff welfare works, maintenance works, making long term planning, according sanction and executing works. Vinod Chaturvedi. Divisional Secretary. Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS). wondered as lo why there is need tor CIG in first places since the problem is more of implementation than planning.

He cited example of Civil Lines railway colony where top officers reside which does not have any colony committee to overlook its maintenance and yet it does not face any problem.

Whereas. Ajni and Guard colonies where Group C and D category employees reside are hcsei with plenty of problems despite having colony maintenance committees. Instead of wasting energy on CIG. Railwav Board should instead fix accountability and take to task those officers who fail to perform.

Posted in: News 2014