In a novel initiative, the Pune Division of the Central Railway has launched a mobile grievance redressal system for its staff working on the field, like gangmen and rail drivers.

The objective behind the move is to provide some relief to the field staff and let them carry out their tasks without having to go to the administration for sorting out their problems.

The railway authorities have launched the project in a phase-wise manner in all parts of the division including, Pune city, Kolhapur and Baramati.

Explaining the logic behind the move, Assistant Personal Officer of the division U C Bodake said, “We have launched this special drive in which instead of our ground staff coming to the administration for any kind of grievance redressal, the railway authorities will do to them.”

He added, “For those who work on the field, it becomes difficult to take time off and go to their authorities every time. Workers like gangmen or technicians have to work in scorching heat as well as in rains. Therefore, we have embarked upon the system to provide them relief.”

“The grievances or problems faced by the workers could be anything like those regarding profession, servants’ quarters or even their personal matters, including health hazards. Children of many workers have to face educational problems due to lack of finances. There should be somebody to listen to these problems and try and help them overcome the problems,” Bodake said.

Another senior railway official said apart from approximately 500 administrative staff, there were no less than 10,000 field workers in Central Railway’s Pune division alone.

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