Acute shortage of Doctors in Railways as well in Central Government Health Services- Need to revise superannuation age limit beyond 60 years upto 65- reg
NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI -110 055
Affiliated to:
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
No.II/13B
Dated: 06/04/2015
Shri Narendra Modiji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
South Block,
Raisina Hills,Railw
New Delhi-110011
Respected Sir,
Sub: Acute shortage of Doctors in Railways as well in Central Government Health Services- Need to revise superannuation age limit beyond 60 years upto 65- reg.
The Indian Railways is a vital transportation infrastructure running over 19000 trains per day and transporting over 2.504 crore people safely. Near about 13 lakhs railway employees belonging to various categories spread over 65,000 route kilometres of Railways network are working round the clock for ensuring uninterrupted services. The railway employees perform complex and difficult nature of duties facing several odds and inclement weather conditions. The Indian Railways works like wall clock at all times without stoppage.
2.NFIR is compelled to bring to your kind notice that heavy shortage of Railway Doctors in Railways has the crippling effect on health care to Railway employees (serving/retired) and their families. As against the sanctioned strength of 2600 Railway Doctors, only about 1700 are on rolls, thus the vacancy position at any given time is not less than 38% of total strength. The Railway Doctors are also engaged in the duties of medical examination of approximately 50,000 direct recruits into the Railways besides conducting periodical medical examination of neatly 1.5 lakhs employees per annum as these staff are engaged in train operations and other duties of critical nature. The Railway Doctors are also duty bound to attend to Railway accidents and provide medical relief to the travelling public on demand.
3.For kind appreciation of Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Federation places below the details pertaining to materialisation of the UPSC selected candidates which shows that the percentage of these candidates has never been above 10% of requirements.
|
Year |
Indent sent to UPSC |
Received through UPSC |
No.of Offers issued |
No.of Doctors jointed |
Shortfall against indent |
Percentage joined |
|
2008 |
250 |
83 |
66 |
11 |
239 |
4.4 |
|
2009 |
250 |
248 |
170 |
15 |
235 |
6 |
|
2010 |
250 |
224 |
215 yet to be issued |
Expected 10% Joining |
250 |
8.8 |
|
2011 |
250 |
– |
– |
– |
250 |
– |
|
2012 |
250 |
– |
– |
24 |
226 |
9.2 |
|
Total |
1250 |
555 |
451 |
50 |
1200 |
|
4.With the expected normal retirement on superannuation in the coming years in Railways, the percentage of Doctors shortage further grows up, consequently managing the health care system will become very difficult. The only alternative to retain the experienced Doctors in the interest of Railways and other Central Government Health Services, is to enhance the upper age limit for retirement on superannuation to “65 years”. In this context we furnish below the particulars relating to the laid down retirement age of the Doctors in the seven States.
|
S.No |
State |
Retirement age for Medical Officers (years) |
Retirement age for Medical Teachers (years) |
|
1 |
Madhya Pradesh |
65 |
65 |
|
2 |
Chhattisgarh |
65 |
65 |
|
3 |
Bihar |
65 |
65 |
|
4 |
Jharkhand |
65 |
65 |
|
5 |
West Bengal |
62 |
65 |
|
6 |
Odisha |
62 |
65 |
|
7 |
Gujrat |
62 |
62 |
5.It may kindly be appreciated that the proposal for upward revision of superannuation age limit of Doctors from the existing 60 to 65 years if approved, will not cause any additional financial implications on the Central Government and on the other hand the knowledge, experience and the talent of the Railway Doctors can be continued to be fully availed till they complete 65 years of age.
6. NFIR also desires to mention that although the Railway Ministry had proposed for raising the superannuation age of Railway Doctors a few years age, the said proposal was not accepted by the Union Cabinet even though such revision of retirment age is very nmuch necessary for ensuring qualitative service to the employees as well Railways.
7. NFIR, therefore, requests the Hon’ble prime Minister to kindly intervene and direct the Ministries of Railways, Health and Family Welfare, Finance and the DoP&T to take immediated action for obtaining approval of the Union Cabinet for raising the superannuation age of Railway Doctors and those Doctors in Central Government Health Services to 65 years.
Federation shall be grateful, if a line in reply is sent on the above proposal.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(Dr.M.Ragaavaiah)
General Secretary.
Source: NFIR