Catering Policy 2017: NFIR

Catering Policy 2017: NFIR

No.II/80(i) / Catg. /Policy/2017

Dated: 21/06/2017

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Catering Policy 2017-reg.
Ref: (i) Railway Board’s letter No. 2016/TG-IIV6001/Pt. dated 27/02/2017
(Commercial Circular No.20/2017
(ii) Railway Board’s letter No. E(NG)I-2003/TR/10 Pt. dated 27/06/2011.

The Railway Board have since issued catering policy 2017 vide Commercial Circular No. 20/2017 bearing letter No. 2016/TG-III/6001/Pt. dated 27/02/2017.

In this connection, NFIR conveys that pursuant to implementation of catering policy 2010, the Railway Board had consulted the Federation on the issues relating to service conditions of catering. staff and formal meetings were held at the level of AM (T&C) and decisions taken by an agreement with the Federations.

It is surprising to note that the Railway Board have not consulted the Federation while finalizing revised policy as replacement to catering policy 2010. The Departmental Catering Staff are in panicky as they feel that their future will get doomed. It needs to be appreciated that in the course of implementation of catering policy 2010, those Departmental Catering Staff deployed under IRCTC were taken back to Departmental Catering again by the respective Zonal Railways. Now, the revised policy has been brought into force and the Departmental Catering Units wherever exist are being outsourced/contractorized which would again dislocate the Departmental Catering Staff. Chronological events since the year 2013 would prove that Departmental catering staff have been subjected to hardships.
NFIR, therefore, urges upon the Railway Board to convene a meeting at the level of AM(T&C) early to discuss staff related issues arisen consequent to the attempts for implementation of catering policy 2017 for protecting the legitimate interests of Departrnental Catering Staff. Pending discussions and decision, it is also requested that the Catering Units presently manned by Departmental Catering staff on Zonal Railways may be allowed to continue without disturbance.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Ragharvaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR