Environmental issues in Indian Railway – Formation of Environment Directorate in Railway Board

Environmental issues in Indian Railway – Formation of Environment Directorate in Railway Board

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No.20l5/ Environ/6/1

New Delhi dated 07.01.2015

To
GMs / Zonal Railways and Production Units,
CAO/DMW/Patiala and CAO/RWP/Bela

Sub: Environmental issues in IR – Formation of Environment Directorate in Railway Board.

In order to give an increased focus and thrust on Environmental issues handled in IR, an exclusive Directorate has been formed in Railway Board, headed by an Advisor, functioning directly under CRB. Executive Directors from Civil Engineering, Electrical, Mechanical, Traffic & Commercial, Finance and Efficiency & Research Directorates have been earmarked to be part of the Environment Directorate. This Directorate will monitor Zonal Railways and Production Units with regard to their performance on Environmental issues, particularly on:

(a) Pollution Control
(b) Efficiency in consumption of Energy
(c) Conservation of resources, particularly water
(d) Proper Lise of land including afforestation and
(e) Developrnent, production & use of alternative sources of energy.

2.0 In order to increase the focus and thrust on Environmental issues, following actions may kindly be taken.

i) Trend of consumption of Traction energy (Electrical and Diesel) to be monitored and figured along with comments as a regular item of the body of your MCDO.

ii) Audit & accreditation on Environment in major activity centres viz., workshops, depots/sheds and Railway stations, to be completed early in a time bound manner.

iii) Undertaking Audits on Energy and water consumption in the ‘A category’ consumption centres and ensuring completion of the same along with an action plan within the next 6 months.

iv) Introducing a system of user level (including stations) monitoring of consumption of all types of energy as well as water on a monthly basis, along with a trend analysis and Bench marking of consumption.

v) Identification of ongoing works having positive contribution towards Environment, taking forward the same for timely completion and realization of benefits.
vi) Annexing a report in the MCDO on trends/ developments on environmental issues, particularly with regard to items listed in (i) to (v) above, department wise, along with highlights if any, in the body of MCDO.

3.0 Compilation of reports periodically with regard to the environmental issues/actions as flagged above may be assigned to the Planning & Efficiency wing functioning in each Zonal Railway with actions to be coordinated by SDGIVl/AGM. In the case of PUs, this task may be assigned to the wing responsible for M&P maintenance.

4.0 Kindly send your reply tc this letter indicating actions being taken/ proposed by various departments on environmental issues, within a fortnight.

(K.Swaminathan)
Advisor (Environment)
Railway Board

Source: Indian Railways

Five Year Action Plan on “Swachh Bharat Mission”

Five Year Action Plan on “Swachh Bharat Mission”

• The ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ which waS launched on 2nd October 2014 should be sustained in a vigorous manner to achieve the goals set for the year 2019.

• Development of adequate infrastructur~ like washable aprons, waste disposal system, effluent treatment plants, sewer lines/septic tanks and amenities such as platform surface, circulating area favourable to mechanized cleaning

• Development of modern tools, plants and equipments for platform surfaces and circulating area and drainage. At all “A-i” and “A” category stations adequate number of dustbins, segragated for biodegradable and nonbiodegradable garbage shall be provided.

• Regular awarding of contracts i.e. rag picking, garbage disposal, pest control and one time, cleaning contracts.

• Periodic drives should be conducted at station to keep the momentum high. DRMs should be advised to participate in these drives so that a spirit of ownership of the campaign in generated.

• In the next five years regular events on cleanliness to be organized.

• Public awareness campaign should be continued through the various media available with IR including posters at stations and announcements through public address system. Campaign should also include action under the Railway’s anti-littering rules of 2012.

• Campaign should also include action under the Railway’s anti-littering rules of 2012.

• More and more mechanized cleaning gadgets will be introduced along with better types of cleaning agents. Periodic contracts for rag picking and garbage disposal to be awarded.

• More and more toilets will be brought under the purview of ‘Pay & Use’ toilets;

• Regular inspections to be conducted at various levels viz. GMs, DRMS, SIGs (Service Improvement Groups) and at other Officers level to check the standard of cleanliness. During these inspections, deficiencies if noticed in various areas such as drainage, availability of dustbin, sewerage, water supply, washable apron and garbage disposal, will be wiped out.

• Monitoring cleanliness through CCTV cameras installed at major stations .

• An award to recognize the best efforts made by the zonal railways at stations towards the cause of cleanliness shall be introduced. Such an award shall be called “Swachh Station” award and shall be given on

All India basis in each category of station.

In line with the above, the following action shall be taken:

(i) Each Zonal Railway shall prepare a division-wise Action Plan which shall indicate the mechanism of cleaning (departmental or outsourced) and the frequency prescribed for cleaning at each station.

• SIG inspections report and feedback from the public should value and acted upon immediately.

• All newly manufactured coaches by the coach Production Units shall be compulsorily fitted with Bio-toilets before they are turned out by 2016-17 and all existing in-service coaches running on Indian Railways shall be retrofitted with Bio-toilets by 2021-22.

• The focus of the five year plan shall be on developing cleanliness oriented infrastructure and system improvements for sustainable cleanliness.

• Zonal Railways and Production Units shall formulate five-year plans indicating allocations of funds to bring about a radical change in the public perception about the cleanliness orientation of Indian Railways at all locations, particularly the customer interface areas namely, stations, trains, offices, etc.

Source: Indian Railways

Indian Railway: Swachh Bharat Mission- Annual Action Plan

Indian Railway: Swachh Bharat Mission- Annual Action Plan

Annual Action Plan for the Year 2014-15

• In terms of the mega-initiatives taken by Zonal Railways under the Swachh Bharat Mission, regular events on cleanliness are to be organized, including periodic cleanliness drives.

• All aspects of the campaign shall be continued including tree plantation, removal of encroachments, painting of road kerbs, clearing posters, repairing street lights, improving drainage, improving signage, whitewashing of buildings etc. shall be continued.

• Focus on clean and hygienic toilets and in particular those located at railway stations.

• Main sources of garbage generation should be identified at stations and station specific solutions should be put in place.

• Dust bins should be provided at all locations in the stations and the public should be advised and encouraged to use the same. Garbage generated by vendors/stalls/catering units should be promptly disposed off by the stall/unit holders into the earmarked refuse bins.

• Under this mission it shall be ensured that stations, tracks, colonies and offices are maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.

• There will be sustained ‘Public Awareness Campaign’ to promote Swachh Bharat Mission.

• Campaign should also include action under the Railway’s anti-littering rules of 2012.

• More and more mechanized cleaning gadgets will be introduced along with better types of cleaning agents.
Periodic contracts for rag picking and garbage disposal to be awarded.

• More and more toilets will be brought under the purview of ‘Pay & Use’ toilets.

• Regular inspections to be conducted at various levels viz. GMs, DRMS, SIGs (Service Improvement Groups) and at other Officers level to check the standard of cleanliness. During these inspections, deficiencies if noticed in various areas such as drainage, availability of dustbin, sewerage, water supply, washable apron and garbage disposal, will be wiped out.

• Monitoring cleanliness through CCTV cameras installed at major stations.

• An award to recognize the best efforts made by the zonal railways at stations towards the cause of cleanliness shall be introduced. Such an award shall be called “Swachh Station” award and shall be given on All India basis in each category of station.

In line with the above, the following action shall be taken:

(i) Each Zonal Railway shall prepare a division-wise Action Plan which shall indicate the mechanism of cleaning (departmental or outsourced) and the frequency prescribed for cleaning at each station.

(ii) Mechanism for monitoring cleanliness at the station along with the inspection schedule at the station where the monitoring shall be done through CCTVs.

(iii) At all ‘A-1″ category stations under the cleanliness contract, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) prescribing measurement of cleanliness shall be gradually introduced. A sample SLA may be obtained from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
(iv) The divisions shall upload photographs of cleanliness drives to the website at a specified periodicity.

(v) Zonal Railways shall indicate the Action Plan, allocation of assessed funds for cleanliness drives for implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission.

(vi) Each division should identify vulnerable areas between stations for clearing encroachment and dumping of wastes and shall take coordinated action with local bodies. The RPF in coordination with GRP should ensure that trespassing is checked to prevent dumping of wastes in the railway area.

(vii) The mechanism of cleaning of trains under OBHS, CTS, etc., should be laid down clearly.

(viii) Public awareness campaign and public education campaign should be carried out on a regular basis. Apart from the media available with the railways, such as public announcement system, CCTVs, advertisement space at stations, etc., division should also issue press releases in the newspapers. Interviews to press and media by senior officers should be given to ensure adequate coverage of the action taken.

(ix) Use of social media should also be made to interact with the public and seeking their support on the endeavour of Indian Railways in the Swachh Bharat Mission.

(x) The progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission should be monitored on a daily basis by the ADRMs at the divisional and AGM at the Zonal level. Monthly reports should be sent to Railway Board.

Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/

Aadhaar based biometric attendance system – Aadhaar details should not be used for personal reasons – Supreme Court

Aadhaar based biometric attendance system – Aadhaar details should not be used for personal reasons – Supreme Court

Aadhaar based biometric attendance system – Employees express displeasure

The biometric Aadhaar-linked attendance system has now been introduced among the staff of Income Tax Department in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. This now links the everyday attendance of these Income tax officials with their Aadhaar card. The fingerprint registered in the Aadhaar card database must match with the fingerprint saved in the timecard. Employees who have not yet applied for their Aadhaar card were instructed to get them as soon as possible.

A senior Income Tax official has said, “The Aadhaar information of the employees and officials are gathered at the national information database. Links are provided from this centre to the various Central Government departments. The daily attendance register has now been added to this database. The employee has to register his/her attendance by getting the thumb scanned.

This scanned thumb impression has to match with the one in the Aadhaar card. The new system has already been implemented at the Income Tax office and the postal department of New Delhi. It has now been introduced at the Income Tax office of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Employees without the Aadhaar card have been asked to apply for one immediately.

Central Government employees meanwhile have expressed their objection to linking the daily attendance timecard with Aadhaar. Mr. Duraipandi, the General Secretary of the Employees’ Sammelan, said, “We have no objection to implementing a biometric attendance system. But, linking the Aadhaar card information with the attendance record is unnecessary and in violation of personal rights. Adding my personal information to my office attendance violates my right to privacy.

The honourable Supreme Court, in its judgement, has clearly specified that Aadhaar details should not be used for personal reasons.”

Source: www.employeesnews.net