RBE No. 04/2004: Safety Related Retirement Scheme (SRRS) – Introduction of Scheme

No.E(P&A)/I-2001/RT-2(KW), dated 02.01.2004

Sub: Safety Related Retirement Scheme – Drivers and Gangmen.

1. Arising out of deliberations in the workshop on Safety on Indian Railways conducted on 12th and 13th of July, 2003 the Ministry of Railways have decided to introduce a Safety Related Retirement Scheme for the categories of Gangmen and Drivers.

2. The main features of the scheme are as follows:-

(i) The Scheme may be called Safety Related Retirement Scheme. The scheme will cover two safety categories viz., Drivers (excluding Shunters) and Gangmen whose working has a critical bearing on safety of train operations and track maintenance. The scheme has been framed on the consideration that with advancing age, the physical fitness and reflexes of staff of these categories deteriorates, thereby causing a safety hazard.

Drivers: This category is directly responsible for the running of trains. Running duties demand continued attention and alertness. The element of stress combined with uncertain hours of work entailed in the performance of running duties over long periods of time and to have a deleterious psychosomatic effect on their health. There is a slowing down of reflexes with the passage of time making them vulnerable to operational lapses.

Gangmen: This category is responsible for the proper maintenance of tracks. Their duties involve heavy manual labour in the laying of tracks, repair of tracks, patrolling etc. Unlike Workshops/ Locosheds, all this labour is performed in the open environment; they are subjected to the vagaries of extreme weather conditions, non availability of forklifts, EOT cranes, wheelbarrow etc. As a result the infirmities associated with the aging processes and spinal and back problems catches up quietly early in life.

These categories, work in conditions, in which fatigue sets in earlier, than in the case of staff who work indoors or within station limits or in depots and workshops. Although the other categories nomenclature as safety categories also have a vital role to play in ensuring operational safety, the nature of their duties, is less arduous. Therefore no other category other than Gangmen and Drivers is included in the Scheme. For the same reason, Shunters who perform less strenuous shift wise, duties within station yards, will not be included in the scheme.

(ii) Under the scheme, Drivers and Gangmen in the age group of 50 to 57 years may seek retirement.

(iii) Employment to a suitable ward of the employee, whose application for retirement under the scheme is accepted, will be considered.

(iv) The employees should have completed 33 years of qualifying service in order to be eligible for seeking retirement under this scheme.

(v) The request for retirement will be on a voluntary basis and there will be no element of compulsion on the part of the Administration.

(vi) The ward will be considered for appointment only in the lowest recruitment grade of the respective category from which the employee seeks retirement, depending upon his/ her eligibility and suitability, but not in any other category.

(vii) Applications from those who propose to retire under this scheme will be taken once in a year. The cutoff date for reckoning the eligibility of employees for seeking retirement under this scheme will be 30th June of the respective Year. All conditions of appointment for the ward of such retires such as age limits, educational qualifications etc. will also be determined with reference to that date.

(viii) The last date for submission of request for retirement and consideration of a ward for appointment under the scheme, will be the 31st of July of the respective year.

(ix) Employees who desire to withdraw their requests for retirement may be allowed to do so, not later than 30th September of the respective year. No request for withdrawal of request will be entertained thereafter.

(x) The discretion to accept the request for retirement will vest with the administration depending upon the shortage of staff, physical fitness and the suitability of the ward for appointment in the category of Driver/ Gangmen as the case may be.

(xi) Those who have completed 33 years of qualifying service and are in the age group of 55 to 57 years would be considered in the first phase of the scheme to be followed by those in the age group of 53 years onwards but less than 55 years.

(xii) The conditions of eligibility, in the case of wards, being considered for appointment would be the same as prescribed for direct recruitment from the open market.

(xiii) Suitability of the wards will be assessed in the same manner as is being done in the case of direct recruitment. The assessment will be done through respective Railway Recruitment Boards. The requests of the employee for retirement under this scheme would be considered only if the ward is considered suitable for appointment in all respect, including medical fitness.

(xiv) Since the Safety Related Retirement Scheme is a package having no nexus with any of the existing schemes, no weightage towards qualifying service will be admissible to the employee who seeks retirement under this scheme. The wards appointed under this scheme will not be allowed to change their category, except as is being allowed under the already existing rules.

(xv) For the purpose of reckoning eligibility for residential accommodation, wards appointed under this scheme will be treated at par, with those appointed through direct recruitment, from the open market; the terms and of regularization of accommodation as applicable to the wards of employees appointed on compassionate basis, will not be applicable in their case.

3. After the successful implementation of the first phase of the scheme, the implementation of the second phase covering employees with the less than 33 years of qualifying service would be considered for clearance by the Railway Board.

4. The scheme will come into force from the date of issue of this letter.

5. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.

Download Railway Board Circular RBE No. 04/2004