They are braving the soaring temperature in their small cabins, without drinking water or rest room facilities while on duty, as they transport millions of passengers and cargo everyday. Now, locomotive pilots with the Indian Railways have written to Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu, urging him to take urgent steps to improve their working conditions and, among others, provide the crew with AC cabins and bottled drinking water en route. A copy of the letter has also been marked to the National Human Rights Commission.
“The unjust condition of the loco cab badly affects the thermal comfort and the overall performance of loco pilots, as the cab and the crew are directly exposed to sunlight resulting in high radiant heat gain”, says the letter, adding that the wider look-out glasses and too much window area exposes the cab to direct sunlight and the “lack of proper solar blinds or curtains make things worse”.
“The fans provided are a mockery. It is ridiculously small, delivers insufficient air, air flow focused only to limited parts of the body…. It conducts hot air and adds to the temperature,” says the letter, adding that “poor” working conditions also go against the declared “National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace”.
As per a report, the Railways have about 55,000 loco pilots, of which 20,000 drive superfast trains. The Rail Budget 2013-14 had talked about providing water closets in locos, but nothing has materialised.
The letter by L Mony and MN Prasad, president and secretary-general of the association, has urged the Minister to provide air-conditioning systems in loco cabs and running rooms, as also improvement in their general work conditions. They also want summer working hours to be reduced, similar to temporary monsoon links when night duty is restricted, increasing the rest time between two spells of duties.
“Loco running staffs are one of the vital categories in Indian Railways who are directly and closely involved in the safe and punctual running of trains….Even minor lapses and human errors on their part are visited with severe punishments,” says the letter, urging Prabhu to ensure the safety and health of the loco staff as well as trains.