Indian Railways derails its pet VIP culture, to embrace equality

The Railways has done away with the 36-year-old protocol that required general managers of zonal railways to be present at railway stations and airports to receive Railway Board chairman and other senior officials of the railway ministry.

The Indian Railways had issued an order on 28 September clarifying that no one can engage lower staff as personal staff or as domestic help any more.

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.

"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.

"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 Railway Board said.

Besides, the Board has directed its members, general managers, divisional railway managers and all other senior officials to give up executive class travel privileges and start journeying in sleeper and AC three-tier class, mingling with other passengers.

Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani said that no official will be entertained with bouquets and gifts any more.

Lohani, who took charge as Railway Board chairman in August this year, had urged the removal of VIP culture. He had also directed young officers joining the Railways to spend more time on the field rather than on clearing files at the office.

"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, 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.