The East Coast Railway Engineers’ Association (ECoREA) celebrated the Engineers’ Day to commemorate the birthday of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvarayya at Mancheswar here on Friday.
A volunteer blood donation camp was organised in association with the Red Cross which was inaugurated by Chief Workshop Manager MK Poddar. Over 45 units of blood were collected from railway engineers and public.
A meeting was held which was presided over by ECoREA president Bobin Mohanty. General secretary BP Dash welcomed guests and members.
Special guest and All India Railway Engineers’ Federation president Sanjib Kumar focused on the role of engineers in the country’s development. He said that though engineers play a major role for development, the Government does not give them a minimum status. The minimum demands of railway engineers such as upgradation to Group-B as social status, recognition to the federation, career progression, etc., should be fulfilled.
Guest of honour and former Minister Manmohan Samal praised the role of railway engineers. He assured that his party would pay proper attention to the grievances of railway engineers and take up the matter with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State Manoj Sinha. He would also arrange a general meeting for railway engineers at Bhubaneswar inviting both Railway Ministers in near future.
Another guest of honour and former MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai said the contribution of Sir M Visvesvarayya for nation building is exemplary. He assured that he would keep continuing his efforts till justice is accorded to railway engineers.
Chief guest and Rajya Sabha member AV Swamy emphasised that engineer should develop technology to make India a great nation. He assured that he would try his best to give justice to railway engineers during his tenure.
The ECoREA also conducted meetings at Sambalpur, Titilagarh, Khurda Road, Angul and Visakhapatnam.