Details on regular and contractual employees, health hazards facing, casualty of gangmen and repairmen etc.: Railway Employees
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 786
ANSWERED ON 03.12.2021
RAILWAY EMPLOYEES
786. SHRI RAKESH SINHA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) how many employees work with Indian Railways;
(b) how many of them are working on contract;
(c) whether Government regularise contractual workers working for the last five years;
(d) what are the health hazards railway employees face due to factors like diesel exhaust, noise and vibration;
(e) how many gangmen and repairmen have died during track repair and maintenance task in the last five years; and
(f) the action taken by Government for protection of life and health of its railway workers?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 786 BY SHRI RAKESH SINHA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 03.12.2021 REGARDING RAILWAY EMPLOYEES
(a) During the year 2019-20, the total number of railway employees working on Indian Railways were 12,53,592.
(b) Presently, 2942 Employees are engaged on contract basis in Railways.
(c) No, Sir. Engagements of contractual staff on Railways are done for a fixed period of time to meet exigencies of services as a stop gap arrangement for a limited period. Engagement on contract basis does not provide for regular absorption.
(d) Health hazards due to Diesel exhaust, Noise and Vibrations are varied and depend upon duration of exposure. Common hazards due to above – are usually Cough, Respiratory tract irritation, lack of concentration, insomnia, blood pressure etc.
Due to preventive measures and medical care provided to Railway employees hazard exposure due to above factors are avoided.
(e) Gangmen and repairmen (Re-designated as Track Maintainer) died during track repair and maintenance task in the last 5 years is as under :-
| Year | Number of Track Maintainer died |
| 2016-17 | 86 |
| 2017-18 | 103 |
| 2018-19 | 83 |
| 2019-20 | 94 |
| 2020-21 | 50 |
| April,2021 to Oct,2021 | 35 |
(f) 1. For safety of Track Maintainer, Railway provide job specific protection gear like Luminous vests, safety helmets with detachable miner’s light, safety shoes, tricolor LED 3-cell torch, sturdy light weight backpack tool kit bag, winter jacket, raincoat with separate waterproof trouser, snow boots etc. to Track Maintainers. Further, ‘Rakshak’ type protection system on high density network of Indian Railways is also provided to alert track maintainer about approaching train.
2. Other measures taken by Indian Railways for safety of Trackmen include counseling by field staff, organising safety seminars, periodical medical examination of field staff, providing warning hooters etc.
3. Further, Railways looks after medical treatment of Railway beneficiary, Medical and Health care provided free of cost, preventive health care, Annual health check-up of all Railway employees and pre placement Medical, Periodical Medical Examination of safety category, First-aid post in all workshops, Specific prevention and safety measures are taken by the concerned departments.
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Source: Rajya Sabha PDF