With a series of derailments, maximum number of corruption cases, decline in customer satisfaction and increase in grievances, the Centre on Thursday mooted a complete overhaul of the functioning of Indian Railways, which has a large workforce of 13 lakh people spanning 17 zones and 68 divisions across the country.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said there is need for changes at the top-level to begin with which can be percolated down at the grassroots level to achieve better results. To set the record straight, Prabhu also advocated for a system of reward and punishment for railway men depending on the performance.
“Where the change should begin withIJ Should we start at the bottom or from the topIJ Whether it should start with the track-man or the top man in railwaysIJ If an organisation has to change, the change must begin at the top level and only then everybody will follow,” Prabhu said at a roundtable conference on human resource management of Indian railways.
The railway minister further said it was important to find out how the goals should be attained, while suggesting that having “right people” in the organisation and keeping them at “right place” could be a step toward this.
Highlighting the need for changes in the organisation Prabhu said a change can happen in railways when shortcomings are realised. “We must understand where do we stand. The railways, as an organisation, must revisit and re-look itself to know whether it was on the right track and gear up for future.” He said.
Emphasising the role of divisions in railway functioning, he said, “It is at the division level where the cutting edge of customer service happens. Division is the one where maximum action took place. Our divisions are focal points of the operation.” He also termed the railways as the most “strategic asset” of the country.
“There should be reward for those who do well. We have to introduce it in the system. How to bring better performance to the fore and also recognise the same and those who do not perform well how to punish them,” “For example, if we are executing a project and somebody completes the project in a record time then the team implementing the project should be rewarded. Similarly if a person delays it and causes loss to the organisation, he should be penalised,” Prabhu said.
Describing the railways as a “unique organisation”, the minister said profit was possible in the railways but it could not be achieved while meeting the social obligations. He said the railways should become competitive and profitable while shouldering social responsibility.
“All our coaches are requisitioned for the movement of troops. Whether reaching our soldiers at the border and making trade and commerce in the run, dispatching water to water- starved region, railways is needed.”
Referring to the public transporter’s goals, he said, “Our corporate goals are to be efficient, modern, tech-savy, financially better off and pro-people.”