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Piyush Goyal issues fiat to end VIP culture in railways; don't line up to greet board chairman

In An Order On September 28, The Ministry Said That The Instructions And Guidelines Issued To The Railways Regarding The Protocol To Be Observed At Airports And Railway Stations During The Visit Of The Railway Board Chairman And Other Board Members Stand Withdrawn With Immediate Effect.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Vikas Mehta | Updated on: 08 Oct 2017, 03:12:22 PM
Railways excludes nearly 40-yr-old protocol to end VIP culture

New Delhi:

In an unprecedented move, the ministry of Railways has asked its senior officials to slug it out - at home and at work - as part of steps to end the VIP culture.

The initiative has brought to an end a 36-year-old practice where it was compulsion for general managers to present themselves on arrival and departure of the Railway Board chairman and other board members during zonal visits.

Overhaul the current culture in the ministry, the Railway Board has decided to remove the instructions of a 1981 circular that mandated such protocol.

In an order on September 28, the ministry said that the instructions and guidelines issued to the railways regarding the protocol to be observed at airports and railway stations during the visit of the Railway Board chairman and other board members stand withdrawn with immediate effect.

Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani said no official will entertain bouquets and gifts at any time.

However, it’s not just in the office that senior officials of the national carrier have to exercise restraint, but also at home. All senior officials have to relieve all the railway staff who have been engaged as domestic help in their homes.

Officials say that around 30,000 trackmen work at the homes of senior officials. They have been asked to resume duties. Sources in the ministry say that in the past one month around 6,000-7,000 personnel have reported back to work.

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“No one will be exempt from the directive to rejoin work except under very special circumstances. We are hoping that all the staff will join work shortly,” a senior official of the ministry said.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has also asked senior officials to give up travelling in cosy saloons and executive class travel privileges and start travelling in Sleeper and AC Three-tier classes, mingling with other passengers.

These include members of the Railway Board, general managers of railway zones and divisional railway managers in each of the 50 divisions.

“I believe that when these protocols were in place, people drafting them would have seen some reasoning behind them. It is difficult for me to say what they were though.  However, now, these have no logic.

Also Read: To control altercations, Railway board issues circular to reduce sleeping hours for passengers 

“Also, there is a tendency in public organisations to not review protocols which have become archaic, but remain part of the dos and don’ts for officials. They should be reviewed on a regular basis,” said a former railway board member who didn’t want to be qouted. (With PTI inputs)

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First Published : 08 Oct 2017, 02:08:31 PM

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