Lukewarm response to 'Izzat'

Railway officers too in the dark over the new scheme

According to South Western railway officials, nobody turned up at the counters to collect their season ticket in the Bangalore City, Cantonment and Yeshwanthpur railway stations.

When Deccan Herald contacted the Cantonment Railway station, the Booking officer Pasha said they haven’t received any information in this regard from higher authorities.

The Izzat monthly season tickets are priced at Rs 25 for those working in the unorganised sector, with monthly income up to Rs 1,500 for travelling up to 100 km. The scheme was announced by Union Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee in the 2009 railway budget.

Thousands of unorganised labourers commute on a daily basis from suburban areas to City for employment purpose. “We do not have enough time to know about these schemes. At least Railway authorities should put up advertisements in the station premises to let people know about the schemes,” laments Ravi, a daily wager.

Income certificate

The season ticket can be issued by the station master/booking officer on receipt of the photocopy of the income certificate. The income certificate, valid for two years, can be issued by the district magistrate and Lok Sabha MPs for those who reside in his/her constituency.

The Union Minister can recommend to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to issue the Izzat season ticket for deserving person anywhere. Sitting MPs of the Rajya Sabha can also recommend to the DRM to issue the ticket. The DRM will authorise the station manager/station master to issue the season ticket.  According to the railways, the DRM has also been authorised under exceptional circumstances to issue the income certificate.