A life in the day of a loco pilot of suburban train

A life in the day of a loco pilot of suburban train

1 of 2 Tough task: Senthilkumar sleeps overnight at the station

to avoid any delays in operations. M. SRINATHprevnext

K.T. Senthilkumar is deputed at the bustling Moore Market complex railway station to operate

a suburban EMU train. Loco pilots operate the EMU trains in a challenging atmosphere, he says

The Hindu Bureau 23.08.2024 

CHENNAI

Even during odd hours, say at 3.30 a.m., the Moore Market complex (MMC) railway station bustles with activity, registering the footfall of night shift workers and commuters waiting for the electrical multiple unit (EMU) train (3.55 a.m.) bound for Arakkonam.

Loco pilot K.T. Senthilkumar, who is deputed to operate the suburban train, sleeps overnight at the loco restroom at the station to avoid any delays in the operation of the train.

He is a resident of Ambattur and a native of Arakkonam.

As the clock at the station ticks past midnight, Mr. Senthilkumar, having undergone the mandatory breathalyser test, gets ready for his early morning shift.

After receiving the schedule sheet for the day from his supervisor and checking the loco cabin, he waits for the train manager or the guard to give him the green signal so that he could start the first journey for the day.

More than 200 loco pilots are employed at the railway station for the operation of EMU trains round-the-clock.

The railway station sees a passenger footfall of nearly one lakh every day.

The first suburban train service begins at 1.05 a.m.

It is from the Chennai Beach to Tiruvallur.

The suburban trains, which record an operational punctuality of more than 97%, are operated on four sections of the city.

These trains have become one of the most economical and dependable public transport facility for the residents of far-flung localities, including Arakkonam, Thiruttani, Chengalpattu, Gummidipoondi, and Velachery.

Mr. Senthilkumar, who started his service as an assistant shunting pilot [temporary posting] in 1997, has served for 24 years by operating goods and loco trains.

He operates the suburban train for more than two hours every day, operating the ‘Deadman’s Handle’ (DMH), which weighs more than five kg.

His shift goes on for more than seven hours.

The Deadman’s handle is a safety handle that would automatically halt the train when the loco pilot faces any health emergency.

Mr. Senthilkumar says the loco pilots operate the EMU trains in a challenging atmosphere, wherein the safety of the commuters are of utmost importance. The loco pilots are allowed to take breaks only on completion of the entire journey.

Welfare measures

Mr. Senthilkumar said the Chennai division of the Southern Railway has taken up several welfare measures to support loco pilots, who are responsible for the safety of thousands of commuters.

These welfare measures include the provision for a 16-hour rest period between shifts.

22.08.2024

 

Declare assets or no salary in Aug: Govt order for staff

Declare assets or no salary in Aug: Govt order for staff 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 22.08.2024

Lucknow : If state govt employees and officials do not declare details of their movable and immovable assets on the govt’s human resource portal by Aug 31 this year, their wages for Aug will not be released, said an order by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh. Very few officials and employees have declared details of their assets on the portal, compared to the number of employees registered on it, officials said.

In a letter to all heads of departments, Singh has said that after multiple extensions, a final date of Aug 31, 2024, has been set for the declaration of details and only those who declare their details of 2023 will be issued their salary for Aug. The letter says that as per an order dated Aug 18, 2023, all officials and employees were to have declared the details of their movable and immovable assets on the human resource portal by Dec 31, 2023. It was also made clear that in all meetings of the department selection committees that took place after Jan 1, 2024, officers who did not declare their assets would not be considered for promotion.

Subsequently, another order was issued on June 6, 2024, which asked for details of assets to be declared by June 30, 2024. If not done by then, disciplinary action under UP government servant (Discipline and Appeal) rules, 1999 would be taken against the defaulters. On July 11, 2024, the date was once again extended to July 31.

“However, after a review of the website, it has come to notice that despite specific orders, the percentage of employees who have declared their assets is a very small number compared to the total registered employees on the portal. Since the process of declaring assets on the human resource portal is being done for the first time, initial problems with the system which may have come up are being kept in mind and another chance is being given,” the letter states.

It adds that in some cases, employees have registered details of 2024 against 2023 and they should be made to declare details for 2023 as well. Details of assets for 2024 have to be declared after Dec 31, 2024. The letter concludes by saying that Aug salaries of only those who have uploaded their details as required will be released this time

NEWS TODAY 22.08.2024

 

HC: Need to take a re-look at norms for attendance in colleges, univs

 HC: Need to take a re-look at norms for attendance in colleges, univs

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi : Delhi High Court on Wednesday said there was a need to re-look at mandatory attendance norms in colleges and universities as the teaching methods had substantially changed post Covid-19 pandemic. It said the mental health of students, which was also affected, needed to be borne in mind while considering attendance requirements. The role of grievance redressal mechanisms and support systems in educational institutions is required to be streamlined.

 A bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma flagged the issue of mandatory attendance requirements in undergraduate and postgraduate courses while hearing a matter related to the alleged suicide by a student of Amity Law University in 2016. The matter was transferred to Delhi High Court in March 2017 by Supreme Court. Sushant Rohilla, a third-year law student of Amity, had hanged himself at home here on Aug 10, 2 016, after the university allegedly barred him from sitting for the semester exams due to a lack of requisite attendance. 

He left behind a note saying he was a failure and did not wish to live. "In the opinion of this court, the same may require a re-look, especially bearing in mind the teaching methods which have substantially changed post the Covid pandemic,” HC said, referring to mandatory attendance norms.

 "In recent times, it is not unusual for colleges and universities to hold classes and examinations virtually or on online platforms. The issue of mandatory attendance is also a cause for concern in the younger generation, which looks at education in a completely different manner. Education is no longer restricted to classroom teaching and in fact extends to more practical areas," the bench pointed out. "There may be a need for making a distinction in professional and non-professional courses as far as attendance standards are concerned. Global practices followed by legal educational institutions around the world would also need to be studied to see whether mandatory attendance requirements are even needed," the court said, posting the matter for September when it will hear the Centre and National Medical Commission, among others.

JNU VC’s appeal fails, 500 students to march to ministry

JNU VC’s appeal fails, 500 students to march to ministry

 Saket.Suman@timesofindia.com

 New Delhi : At least 500 students of Jawaharlal Nehru University will march from the campus to the office of the Union education ministry on Friday to register their protest against the university administration. This comes even as vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit attempted on Friday to pacify the protesters by urging them to end their hunger strike, which has now entered the 10th day. Dhananjay, who was elected in March as president of the students’ union — a body yet to be notified by the administration — said, “The VC repeats her favourite line about having no money whenever we make demands. We will, therefore, march to the education ministry on Friday.” 

He also denied the possibility of a thaw between the administration and the agitating students after the VC met the protes ters on Wednesday morning. There are five students on an indefinite hunger strike, one of them having joined after the health of two protesters deteriorated on Monday. After over 230 hours without food, at least three of them are developing health complications, a student participating in the hunger strike claimed to TOI, adding that the VC visited the protesters and spoke to them briefly. Pandit, according to him, was accompanied by senior university officials, including the chief medical officer and dean of student affairs. A university administrative official confirmed to TOI, 

“The VC met the students and told them that the administration was there for the welfare of students. Our chief medical officer, dean of student welfare and Rector 2 have been visiting and talking to the students on a regular basis.” Describing the agitating students as her “own children”, Pandit pleaded with them to end their hunger strike and said she was doing everything she could in her capacity. She claimed to be aware of the struggle that the students had faced in their personal lives to reach JNU and was pained to see them on strike. 

The indefinite hunger strike led by JNUSU has been called primarily to demand an increase in the merit-cum-means scholarship to at least Rs 5,000 and to thwart any attempt by JNU to sell the Gomti Guest House, alleging that the university’s stance on a funds crunch was “sham and bogus”. Another major demand is student representation in the university’s internal complaints committee to tackle the cases of sexual harassment on campus. While Dhananjay said it wasn’t possible to sit down with the VC to find a way forward without resorting to protests because of the administration using “tactics to appear good in the public eye”, the JNU authorities maintained that the education ministry subsidised the university’s expenses and that it itself had no internal receipts of its own, unlike other central universities that were able to raise 20-30% of their expenses from internal sources. 

JNU aims to generate its own funds and increase internal revenue to avert raising fees, which are as low as Rs 10 and Rs 20 per student monthly, the administration said. As revealed in an RTI inquiry, the university, which was ranked second nationally in the recently released National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ratings, received a larger share of funding under the current govt: Rs 3,030 crore in 2015-24, almost 1.5 times more than Rs 2,055 crore in 2004-14. Asked what was wrong in the administration taking a long-term view and striving to generate internal funds, Dhananjay said that JNU, as a premier institution, should be given funds and not be forced to sell its assets. For now, however, the administration seems firm about generating regular income through public-private partnerships, revamp and reuse of the university’s assets.

CAG flagged RG Kar graft, but exprincipal refused to respond

CAG flagged RG Kar graft, but exprincipal refused to respond

 RohitKhanna@timesofindia.com 22.08.2024 

Kolkata : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had flagged financial irregularities at R G Kar Medical College back in 2021, the year Sandip Ghosh took charge as the principal of the institute. Ghosh had reportedly refused to respond to multiple CAG reminders, raising suspicion he wanted to hide something. As Comptroller and Audi tor General started looking into the procurement of med icines and equipment by the institute, they came across earlier purchases that did not follow state GST norms, leading to excess expenditure. 

After Goods and Services Tax was introduced, govt notified hospitals that medicines and equipment would be charged under GST, even if the vendor had a pre-GST contract. The finance department issued a guideline on working out the base price. CAG found that RG Kar did not follow the base price calculation prescribed by the finance department. It resulted in an excess expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore, the 2021 CAG report stated. The Comptroller and Auditor General sought a reply from the state. 

A health department official said no response came from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. CBI grills Sandip Ghosh for sixth day Former RG Kar Hospital and College principal Sandip Ghosh was interrogated by CBI here on the sixth day on Wednesday. The agency searched his car twice, made recordings and took notes. Roy did not speak to reporters while entering the CGO complex. Meanwhile, Calcutta HC directed police to ensure security for Ghosh’s family. Senior state counsel Amitesh Banerjee told the court that cops were deployed in front of his house round-the-clock and a police van was also present. The Beliaghata police station in charge was tightening the security, he added.