In a move to galvanise its human resources, the Indian Railways has chosen 100 lower grade staff working in the safety related departments for training at Singapore and Malaysia. So far only top level officials used to be sent for such foreign training , something which hardly benefited the staff on the ground. This is the first time the Ministry decided to send gangmen, tackmen and other non gazetted employees on foreign tour on zonal basis.
In the first assignment, 100 staff from Secunderabad-based South Central Railway (SCR) has been selected under 'Employees Overseas Camp' programme.
While 25 per cent expenditure of the tour is being borne by the employees, 75 per cent is from the Staff Benefit Fund (SBF) for the six-day tour ending on February 2. SBF funds are allocated by Railway Board for various welfare activities of non-gazetted employees working in the national transporter.
"The 100 strong group of employees comprise Group C and D category employees. Preference has been given to employees from lower cadres and those nearing retirement. Allocation of number of slots for each Division, Workshop and Headquarters was given on the basis of their sanctioned strength," said M Umashankar Kumar, SCR chief public relations officer.
The itinerary covers tourist sites such as Universal Studios, Sentosa and Night Safari in Singapore and includes the Kuala lumpur City Tour, Petronas Towers, Batu Caves and Genting Highlands in Malaysia. "The SBF funds are usually used for scholarships for lower grade employees, to benefit the girl child, camps for children and other such socially relevant causes like this foreign tour,” the official said.
