Career Progression Chart for All Category of Railway Employees to be Prepared
Minutes of Meeting taken by Hon’ble Minister of Railways through Video Conference on 01.10.2019 – Career progression chart for all category of employees to be prepared (Item No.32)
NFIR
National Federation of India Railwaymen
3, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi – 110 055
No. IV/NFIR/7th CPC (Imp)/2016/RB/2020
Date: 24/01/2020
The Chairman,
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir,
Sub: Minutes of Meeting taken by Hon’ble Minister of Railways through Video Conference on 01.10.2019 – Career progression chart for all category of employees to be prepared (Item No.32) – Reg.
Ref: (i) Railway Board’s Letter No. 2019/E&R/8(1)/13 dated 15.10.2019 to the General Managers of Zonal Railways, Production Units etc.,
(ii) NFIR’s letter No. IV/NFIR/7th CPC/Imp./2016/RB Pt. 2 dated 02.11.2019 addressed to the Chairman, Railway Board.
(iii) Member Staff/Railway Board letter No. PC-VII/2019/1/10/1 (Part) dated 30.12.2019 addressed to the General Managers of Indian Railways & Production Units.
Several discussions were held with the Railway Board by the Federation in various formal/informal meetings on the subject regarding grant of pay-scales to the Stenographers working in Zonal Railways/Production Units on par with Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers (RBSS), but there has been no progress emerged till date. The nature of duties, educational qualifications, recruitment rules of Stenographers working in Zonal Railways though similar to that of Railway Board Stenographers, vast disparity in pay- scales has been maintained. The recommendations of VI CPC for this category of staff and also directions issued by various Central Administrative Tribunals have also been completely ignored by the Railway Board. It may be seen that the Stenographers working in Railway Board have been provided with adequate career progression in their service, and they are getting promotions upto the level of Junior Administrative Grade (JAG)/Selection Grades. Unfortunately, the similarly qualified staff working on Zonal
Railways have been retiring from railway service on superannuation in the Grade Pay of Rs.4600/Level-7 itself, even after rendering more than three decades.
The General Managers of many Zonal Railways have suggested the need for improving the career progression of this vital category by upgrading the posts, which recommendations are once-again reproduced below:
| S.N. | Level of Officers | Proposed level of Secretarial Assistance |
| 1. | GM/AGM | Sr.PPS (JA Grade) |
| 2. | PHODs (HAG)/CHODs (SAG) | PPS (Sr.Scale) |
| 3. | DRMs/ADRMs/other SAG Officers | PS-I (Jr.Scale) |
In the above context, NFIR brings to your kind notice that Member Staff/Railway Board vide letter No. PC-VII/2019/1/10/1 (Part) dated 30.12.2019 has advised the General Managers to explore the feasibility of posting of some senior and capable PS against Senior Scale ex-cadre posts in General Administration Departments of respective Railways/ Production Units as an interim measure. However, there has been no mention in regard to upgradation of Stenographer Posts at the level of PHODs/CHODs, DRMs/ADRMs and other SAG Officers. Upgradation of one or two posts at the level of GM/AGM on Zonal Railways, would not serve the purpose and there is every necessity for upgradation of Stenographer Posts at PHOD and DRM Levels as has been recommended by the General Managers and reiterated by the Federation (NFIR) vide its letter dated 02.11.2019.
The NFIR therefore, requests the Chairman, Railway Board to kindly intervene in the matter for ensuring upgradation of pay-scales to the Stenographers working on Zonal Railways on par with Railway Board Secretariat Stenographers (RBSS) and guidelines may be issued accordingly for creation of additional higher grade posts on Zonal Railways.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary