Facilities

3 Informing the Association about Government Policies
While acknowledging receipt of communications, the Association should be advised of the Government’s policy decisions so as to enable the SC/ST employees to be conversant as to what the Government is doing for them. (Railway Board’s letters No. E(SCT)/74 CM1/166 dated 24.7.1974 and 80-E(SCT)15/1(Pt. II) dated 5.2.1982)

4 Grant of Special Casual Leave and Issue of Journey Passes
Special Casual leave and special passes should be granted to the Office bearers of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association to enable them to attend the informal meetings at Zonal “Railway Headquarters/Railway Board. The facility of two card passes of First class/2nd AC for the Zonal Railway Jurisdiction on each Zonal Railway for the President/Working President and the General Secretary was extended in 1994. (Railway Board’s letters No. 79/E(SCT)15/1 dated 1.5.1979, No. 80-E(SCT)15/1(Pt. II) dated 21.9.1982 and No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 18.05.1994) 7. The above facilities provided to All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association were withdrawn in Oct 1980 because of differences in different groups of Association. However, the facilities to Association were restored in 1982 vide Railway Board’s letter No. 80-E(SCT)15/1(Pt. II) dated 5.2.1982.

5 Issue of Identity Cards-cum-Gate Passes where entry is controlled by Gate Pass system
Identity card-cum-gate passes may be issued to two office bearers viz., the President/Working President and Secretary of the Zonal Executive Committees (as individuals) in respect of those offices/Workshops where entry is controlled by Gate-Pass system. (Railway Board’s letter No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 15.6.1994)

6 Allotment of Railway office accommodation to Zonal offices of SC/ST Railway Employees Association at Zonal Railway Headquarters Extracts from MR’s letter No. 88/LM(B)/3/42 dated 04.10.1988 are reproduced below:
Individual cases for allotment of Railway office accommodation by Association will be considered on merits by the concerned Railway Administration.

7 Card Pass facility at Central & Zonal level
The facility of special passes may include 2 card passes of 1st Class / 2nd AC for All India jurisdiction at Central level for the President/Working President & General Secretary and 2 Card passes of 1st Class / 2nd AC for Zonal Railway jurisdiction at Zonal level for the President/Working President & General Secretary for the purpose of helping the office bearers of the Association in their staff welfare activities. (Railway Board’s letter No.93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 18.05.1994 )

8 Informal meetings & their periodicity
On the request of the Association, its representatives should be allowed the facility to meet informally the General Mangers/Chief Personnel Officers in the Zonal Railway Headquarters/Production Units, Divisional Railway Managers, Other Divisional officers in the Divisions and Chief Works Manages or Dy. C.M.E. in the Workshops for representing their grievances personally. The periodicity of informal meetings has been laid down as two in a year. Formal minutes of the meeting, however, need not be circulated to the Association and correspondence need not to be entered into with the Associations but copies of any orders that may be issued following discussions may be sent to the Association. (Railway Board’s letters No. 78/E(SCT)/15/4 dated 9.2.1978, No. 80-E(SCT)15/1(Pt. II) dated 5.2.1982 and No. 88-E(SCT)1/80/2 dated 12.7.1996.) Note: The periodicity of informal meetings was decided to be held twice in a year vide Board’s letter No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 18.05.1994 but the frequency was increased to once a month vide Board’s letter No. 88-E(SCT)1/80/2 dated 16.2.1995. However, again in 1996, the periodicity of meetings has been restricted to twice a year vide Railway Board’s letter No. 88-E(SCT)1/80/2 dated 12.7.1996..

9 Supply of Policy Circulars/letters on Reservation and Establishment Matters etc
Apart from providing all policy circulars/letters etc. on reservation for SCs/STs, 15 copies of all circulars/letters etc. on Establishment matters should be endorsed to the Association for proper appreciation of the reservation rules. (Board’s letter No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 18.05.1994)

10 Issue of Identity Cards-cum-Gate Passes where entry is controlled by Gate Pass system
Identity card-cum-gate passes may be issued to two office bearers viz., the President/Working President and Secretary of the Zonal Executive Committees (as individuals) in respect of those offices/Workshops where entry is controlled by Gate-Pass system. (Railway Board’s letter No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 15.6.1994)

11 Staying facility to the Office Bearers of the Association on visits to Zonal Railway Headquarters/Railway Board for Informal Meetings
Railways may provide the staying facility to the Office Bearers of the Association who come for informal meetings at the Zonal Railway Headquarters/Railway Board on usual payment terms subject to availability of accommodation. This may include Railway Institutes, Community Centres, Marriage Halls, Rest Rooms and Rest Houses accommodation as per entitlement. (Railway Board’s letter No. 93-E(SCT)I/22/1 dated 18.05.1994)

12 Railway Telephone & Notice Board facility.
Grant the following additional facilities to the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association and All India OBC Railway Employees Federation/ Association at Zonal , Divisional & extra Divisional and Branch levels:- (i) Railway Telephone in offices (ii) Allotment of Notice Board at a suitable place. (iii) Staying facilities which may include Railway Institutes, community centre, Marriage Halls, Rest House, Rest Houses, Retiring Rooms etc. As per entitlement free of cost when they are called for official meetings with the administration. (Railway Board’s letter No.96-E(SCT)I/71/5 dated 22/10/2002)

13 Appropriate Training to the Office Bearers of Association
Organise Appropriate/Orientation Courses for various level of offices so that they are exposed to such programme. Office Bearers of the Associations of SC & ST employees should also be exposed to such training so that they become more enlightened and selective in submitting complaints on grievances in service matters to the appropriate authorities. (Railway Board’s letter No.85-E(SCT)II/74/1 dated 10/10/95)

14 Special Casual leave and special journey passes
Special Casual leave and special journey passes not more than 20 (twenty) in number of office bearers of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association for attending to informal meetings at Divisional / Workshop level. (Railway Board’s letter No.97-E(SCT)II/3/468 dated 11/12/97)

15 Special Casual leave and special journey passes
Special Casual leave and special journey passes not more than 20 (twenty) in number of office bearers of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association for attending to informal meetings at Divisional / Workshop level. (Railway Board’s letter No.97-E(SCT)II/3/468 dated 11/12/97

16 Office accommodation Board, Zone and Division levels
The Association, being welfare Association, may be allotted suitable office accommodation at Board, Zone and Division levels. Allotment of accommodation may be ensured within a month. (Railway Board’s letter No.97-E(SCT)II/3/468 dated 11/12/97)

17 Office accommodation at Branch level.
Office accommodation may be provided to the Branches of SC/ST Association. The no. of Branches may not exceed the no. of Branches allowed to any of the recognised unions. (Railway Board’s letter No.97-E(SCT)1/22/12 dated 19/06/98)

18 Participation of Gr. ‘A’ & Gr. ‘B’ serving Railway Officers in Association activities.
Gr. ‘A’ ‘B’ serving Railway Officers belonging to SC/ST can also become members of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association with the condition that he/she as an office bearer or a member of the executive committee of the Association should not deal in his/her official capacity with any representation or other matters connected with that Association. (Railway Board’s letter No.96-E(SCT)I/71/5 Pt.I dated 01/09/98)

19 Free of cost staying facilities
Free of cost staying facilities may be provided to the office bearers attending informal meetings at divisional and branch levels also in addition to provision of staying facilities at Zonal and Central levels. (Railway Board’s letter No.2001-E(SCT)I/71/2 dated 11/07/2002)

20 Gate Pass & Staying facility
The facility of Identity Card / Gate Passes where the entry is controlled by the Gate Pass System, may be extended to four to five office bearers of the Federation at all levels and staying facilities may be provided to the office bearers attending Informal Meetings at Divisional and Branch levels also in addition to provision of staying facilities at Zonal and Central level on usual payment terms subject to availability of accommodation. This may include Railway Institutes, Community Centres, marriage halls, rest rooms and rest house accommodation as per entitlement. (Railway Board’s letter No.2001-E(SCT)I/71/2 dated 17/07/2002)

21 Transfer of office bearers of SC/ST Railway Employees Association.
Transfer of elected office bearers of SC/ST Railway Employees Association in the same grade may not generally be resorted to in ordinary situation.. However, whenever such transfers are considered essential, the controlling authority may satisfy himself that the same is appropriately warranted according to the administrative needs, in such cases, the concerned Liaison Officer for SCs/STs may be apprised of the circumstances under which such transfers have been ordered. This will enable the Liaison Officer to explain the background of transfer to the office bearers of the Association, if any representation against transfer of office bearer of SC/ST Association is received. (Railway Board’s letter No.97-E(SCT)I/22/12 dated 05/03/99 and No.2001-E(SCT)I/71/2 dated 11/07/2002)

22 Staying facilities & protection of office bearers from transfer
It has brought to notice that the instructions regarding provision of facilities to the Association contained in Board’s letters No.96-E(SCT)I/71/5 dated 22/10/2002 regarding staying facilities: No.97-E(SCT)I/22/12 dated 05/03/1999 regarding protection of office bearers from transfers: No.96-E(SCT)I/46/1 dated 15/09/97 and No. 96-E(SCT)I/71/5 dated 28/08/97 regarding acknowledgement of and reply to communications, are not being followed. It is reiterated that the above instructions may be strictly adhered to. (Railway Board’s letter No.2008-E(SCT)I/22/7 Pt.I Dated 11/06/2008)

23 Regarding holding of Informal Meetings
Grant the following additional facilities to All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association at all levels:- (i) In addition to two informal meetings scheduled per year a special need based meeting with the GMs/CPOs will be held as and when decided by General Manager. (ii) Informal Meeting at AEN level will also be held on issues relating only to engineering staff within his jurisdiction, once a year. (Railway Board’s letter No.2003-E(SCT)I/22/27 Pt.I Dated 13/06/2008)

24 Minimum basic facilities in their offices.
Grant minimum basic facilities in these office accommodations provided to these Associations like a table, 3 to 4 chairs, electricity, a fan etc. at various levels. The above facilities may be provided immediately by recycling the old /unutilised furniture already available on Zonal Railways / Divisions / Branches offices etc. and not as a fresh procurement for this purpose. (Railway Board’s letter No.2003-E(SCT)I/22/27 Pt.VI dated 01/07/2004)

25 Railway Telephone with Zonal STD at the residence of the President/ Working President and General Secretary
Railway telephone with Zonal STD (Inter Division) at the residence of the President/Working President and the General Secretary of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association and All India OBC Railway Employees Federation/ Association be provided at Apex and Zonal levels. This is however, subject to the facility being available at that location. (Railway Board’s letter No.2003-E(SCT)I/22/27 Pt.VII dated 14/07/2004)

26 Railway telephone facility at the residence of office bearers of Association.
Railway telephone with Zonal STD(Inter Divisional) at the residences of President / Working President and the General Secretary of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association be provided at Apex and Zonal levels. (Railway Board’s letter No.2003-E(SCT)I/22/27 dated 14/07/2004)

27 Card Pass of All India jurisdiction and Railway STD Telephone at the residence of Additional General Secretary/CEC
Ist Class / IInd AC Card Pass of All India jurisdiction(including Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains without any companion/attendant) and Railway STD Telephone at the residence of Additional General Secretary/CEC of All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association. (Railway Board’s letter No.2005-E(SCT)I/22/14 dated 04/10/2007)

28 Providing of new furniture
New furniture at the existing scale may be provided in the Association’s offices as against the old recycled one, prescribed in the current rules. (Railway Board’s letter No.2008-E(SCT)I/22/27 Pt.IV Dated 20/05/2008)

29 Circulation of record note of discussion of the Informal Meeting of the Association.
The record note of discussion of Informal Meetings of the Association should be circulated within one month and further necessary action on the items may be taken accordingly. (Railway Board’s letter No.2003-E(SCT)I/22/27 dated 23/07/2004)

30 Inclusion of a member of SC/ST member in Colony Care Committee
A representative of SC/ST Association recommended by the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association of the concern Zone/Division should also be included in the Welfare Committee such as Colony Care Committee in all the places wherever it exist. (Railway Board’s letter No.2005-E(SCT)I/22/14 Pt.I Dated 27/06/2008)

Dated

RBE No.

Subject