In a bizarre case, over 100 Parliamentarians, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, have written to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal urging him to meet the demands of the Travel Ticket Examiners (TTEs) of Indian Railways network.

According to Indian Railways Ticket Checking Staff Organisation (IRTCSO) President Mukesh Gautam, the TTEs are not even getting the basic facilities meant for a railway staff as ticket checking staff are not in the list of railway’s running staff. “We are thankful that several legislators have understood our demand and urged the Railway Ministry,” Gautam said at a Press conference in the national Capital. 

TTEs claimed that they are not getting the benefits such as timely increments, facilities of restrooms, running staff allowances, etc like other categories of railways which includes loco pilots, guards or mechanical unit boys.

Gautam rued the fact that Indian Railway is still carrying the legacy of British era during which they had removed TTEs from the list of running staff of railways. “The trend is still in practice even after 70 years of the Independence. Ahead of the 50 years celebration of foundation day of IRTCSO on Wednesday, the office-bearers also met Chairman Railways Board Ashwani lohani and apprised him about the problems being faced by TTEs. lohani has reportedly instructed officials concerned to examine the whole issue and resolve it at earliest.

“We (TTEs) are the brand ambassadors of the railways but our job has been undermined. Surprisingly, our counterparts in Bangladesh and Pakistan have been included in the running staff list soon after their partition from India.