Voice of a Young Railway Officer

Problems of Railways (From the eyes of Common People)

1. Lack of punctuality

2. Filthiness

3. Services are not available as per demand ( Rush for tickets, Tatkal Facility etc)

4. Substandard or poor services

5. Lack of security

6. Lawlessness in Railways (Ticket less travel etc.)

7. No system for Grievance Redressal

8. Changes in services provided by Railway are not as per the changing needs/ aspirations of the nation

9. Non- Responsiveness for problems/ changes

10. Staff and Railways officers are not sensitive for the problems of common consumers
 

Cause of Problems
 

Basic Cause – Management Failure

Reasons of Management Failure 

1. Departmental Structure of Indian Railways

2. Multiple stakeholders with little or no loyalty for system

3. Disintegrated system, rather than integrated system

4. Large Divisions

5. Centralization of Power

6. Large number of officers and manpower, which is hampering the system and taking its toll

7. No sense of ownership among officers and staff

8. Wrong ways of Man Power induction

9. Lack of Organizational Vision and Objective

10. Misuse of Talent- People with administrative capabilities are used in routine jobs and Technocrats never do technical jobs

11. Frustrated and depressed set of officers

12. If Railway would have been state, it would have been softest state

 Way Out (Proposed solutions)
 

1. Corporatization and Privatization of Railways-

This solution is being proposed by various committees. There is no doubt that corporatization and privatization may bring some purpose, objective or vision into the organization and this can increase efficiency of organization, making it better organization. 

But, privatization and corporatization of large and far reaching organization like railway, which has a strategic importance too is a doubtful idea. Further, the fact that privatization has not succeeded anywhere, put more questions mark on this idea.

2.  PPP model or gradually increasing roles of private players in the management of IR-

This is the worst proposed solution because it will increase the number of stakeholders in railways. And not add any vision, purpose or objective to the organization.

3. Third model is restructuring of Organization with the purpose of making it leaner, fitter and more efficient, while keeping it in Public domain/ Government system. 

Suggestions-
 

1. Only three services are required in Railways. Indian Railway Management Services, Indian Railways Technical Services and Indian Railway Account Services. Management functions, like operation, estate management, HR, commercial activities should be dealt by Indian Railway Management Services. Technical aspects should be dealt by Indian Railway Technical Services (IRTS). Separate Accounts services may be kept or it may be merged with other account services of Government of India.

2. Railway Ministry should be divided into two departments- Railway Administration Department and Technical Department. 

3. Managerial posts of Railways should be manned by Management service only. 

4. Large zones and divisions should be abolished. There is no need of Zonal Railways, as they don’t do any productive work, other than interpreting instructions of Railway Board. Rather than having large divisions, Railways should be divided into smaller divisions. Smaller divisions, identical to Districts should be formed. Large divisions, with inaccessible geographical areas from divisional headquarters and unmanageable work force, have failed.

5. One small mid layer may be made just for Cadre Control functions. But it should be very lean and should be restricted for cadre control works, like periodical transfers, conducting selections and general monitoring of works of DRMs. There should not be lot of officers.

6. Young blood should be brought into Railway Management. Post of DRM should be of JAG or Selection grade only. Post of ADRM should be of Jr. and Senior Scale. SAG and other senior officers should be used in mid level and highest level policy making. 

7. Delegation of power should be liberal at divisional level, in place of conservative power delegation of today. Further, in place of departmental distribution of work, all powers should be vested into the DRM.  Other officers of technical and managerial services should be there to help the DRM, but power and responsibility should be vested in DRMs mostly.

8. Rationalization of large number of manpower is our dire need. Other than core activities should be stopped and unnecessary categories should be abolished. Further, number of sanctioned strength should be reduced. Mechanization of activities should be preferred. A separate study is needed for this purpose.  

9. All backdoor entry into Railways should be stopped. MR Quota, GM quota, Land Losers, Accident victims, CGA, LARSGESS are cancer for Railways, because inefficient and corrupt manpower bleeds the railways for 30-35 long years. All entries into the Railways should be by merit and should be organized centrally. They should be based upon needs of Railways and not upon needs of others.

10. Similarly, promotions in Railways should be centralized to avoid any corruption and favouritism. 

11. Officers should be make confident and satisfied lot by providing better facilities like home, transportation, perks, bonus etc. which is not systemize in railways. System is running on misutilization and bending of rules. This makes the system corrupt and officers frustrated. Therefore, misutilization of resources should be strictly checked, but better and liberal facilities should be provided to officers at the same time to make them more confident and competent.

12.  Trespassing in Railways premises, be it unauthorized travel, be it unauthorized entry on railway properties should be strictly dealt with.

13. Number of staff and officers should be rationalise as per organisational need.

14. Presently  Railway system is running on the basis of mistrust, rather than trust. However, even in this atmosphere corruption is not checked. Therefore, rules and practices should be established in a way that trusts their members. Inefficient, demotivated and frightened officers and staff are doing more harm than the corruption. System should be streamlined in a way that evoke fear in corrupt, and not in honest.