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Railway gate operators bemoan Rs7,500 salary, lack of basic facilities
View(s):Railway gate operators say their needs and requirements have been overlooked for 13 years, as their salaries and working conditions have not improved over the years.
The gate operators claim that their salaries have remained at Rs 7,500 a month, while persons who are not engaged in any work are provided 17,500 under Aswesuma welfare benefit. They pointed out that their daily wage is restricted to Rs 250.
The gate operators lamented that they are not eligible for the Aswesuma benefit even though they stay long hours stationed near the rail gates to do their job.
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- A poorly paid job with little protection
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- Pannir Manoharan
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- Dilip Kumar
Some said they do not even have minimal work conditions such as a proper shelter or lavatory facilities set up near the rail gates.
Gate operator Pannir Manoharan said he works at the Haputale rail gate for 13 years, yet does not even have a proper place to stay while on duty.
He added that it is difficult for him to bear the cold, wet weather in the area, as the hut given to him is exposed.
Mr Manoharan added that he covers his hut and makes a shelter by using discarded bill boards of shops situated in Haputale town, to prevent getting wet in the rain.
According to him, they have to bear mistreatment by police officers when they go to collect the meagre Rs 7,500 salary.
Another gate operator Dilip Kumar lamented that he, too, bears the hardships of having a poor salary and not having a proper shed to stay while working.
He said that though other workers have salaries increased annually, and even though politicians make claims at parliamentary sessions, the gate operators never get their salaries increased or their grievances heard by authorities.
Mr Kumar pointed out that though some gate operators do labour work during the interval between train times, due to Ella becoming a tourist attraction more trains are operated resulting in them having remain at the railway gates continuously.
He added that if they failed to operate the gate, it would lead to an accident and they will be held accountable, and officials would take action against them.
“There are no officials to look after our grievances about our payment and working conditions,” he said.
The gate operators ask that the government at least provide a Rs 1,000 daily wage for them.
Pix and text by Nayananda Buweneka
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