Sadhu calls on workers to work with integrity

Speaking after inaugurating Vigilance Awareness Week here, he pointed out that Indian Railways with a workforce of nearly 1.6 million- nearly fifty per cent of manpower in other central government undertakings put together, had a huge responsibility for maintaining a high standard of integrity in their dealings with their customers. Any callous and suspicious behaviour of the employees could be very bad publicity for a mammoth organisation like Indian Railways.

Dr Sadhu stated that though the number of vigilance cases opened against Railway employees, in relation to the total cases registered against central government employees, was much lower, as per the Annual report 2008 of the Central
Vigilance Commission (Major cases: Total 909 Railways 101; Minor cases total 1173 Railways 232), it is worrisome that there are certain pockets where improvements are needed urgently. Some of areas where cases are registered normally are non-compliance accepted guidelines/rules/regulations, wrong calculation of punitive charges for overloading of wagons beyond their permissible capacity benefiting the customers, non-realisation of undercharges. The vigilance cases against staff of Mysore Division in the last four years- 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 (up to September 2010) years have been 48, 42, 33 and 44 respectively- a majority of them against ticket checking staff.

He said that stringent action was being initiated against staff against whom vigilance cases are reported commensurate with the gravity of the case as a deterrent. He wanted staff to be always vigilant and take utmost care in applying rules communicated to them from time to time.

He also mentioned that Mysore Division has disposed of 171 cases filled under RTI in 2009-10 and in the current year (up to September 2010) as many as 150 cases have been dealt with without bursting the mandatory time limit. As on date 28 vigilance-related cases-11 major & 17 minors- are pending on Mysore Division, he said.

Earlier, Dr Sadhu led a team of officers and supervisors to obtain first hand information from the Bangalore-bound Tippu Express by distributing pamphlets containing tips as to how everyone can contribute in eradicating the menace of corruption at all levels. He asked rail users to bring to the notice of Railway Administration any kind of corruption or wrong-doing on the part of railway

employees for initiating necessary disciplinary action. He said that Railways had provided the following telephone numbers for public to report such incidences- 24 Hour Vigilance Helpline: 9448998072 & Toll Free Landline 155210.

Sudhakar Naik, Divisional Commercial Manager, SWR, Mysore, Nanjundan, Senior Vigilance Officer, headquaters, SWR, Hubli, senior supervisors and staff were present.