The East Coast Railway Engineers’ Association (ECoREA) conducted its 18th zonal executive committee (ZEC) meeting at Khurda Road on Sunday.
Members from Bhubaneswar headquarters, Mancheswar Workshop and Khurda Road, Waltair and Sambalpur divisions attended and discussed various issues concerning to railway engineers and railway safety as well.
ECoREA president Bobin Mohanty said that even as the Prime Minister has, on the request of 32 MPs, recommended to the Railway Ministry for fulfilling their, demands, the Railway Board has denied in its as usual manner, demoralizing 80 thousand engineers.
General secretary BP Dash said that when the Railway Minister has given focus on safety at that time the Railway Board’s negligence towards recommendations of the Taskforce on safety and demands of railway engineers, who are looking over railway safety, is nothing but serious negligence towards safety.
Finance secretary SB Satpathy said that if the railway engineers would be given Group-B status to railway engineers at par with engineers of other departments, justified pay structures, assured promotions and recognition to All India Railway Engineers Federation (AIREF) by separating engineers from labourers, then only railway safety could be strengthened further.
Considering these negligence and in response to the AIREF’s call, the ZEC would stage mass dharna in front of GM office and DRM offices of 3 divisions on December 15.
The ZEC has selected S Debnath as new president of Khurda Division after unfortunate death of MK patra. General secretary BP Dash conducted the meeting. Parmeswar Panda offered a vote of thanks.