Railway Employee Welfare
Railway Employee Welfare
Overview
Indian Railways looks after about 12.3 lakh serving employees and 14.5 lakh railway pensioners through a three-tier welfare structure: (i) Statutory benefits under Labour Acts, (ii) Railway Board’s welfare schemes, and (iii) Staff-benefit funds managed by Recognised Unions. The apex policy body is the Welfare & Sports Directorate of Railway Board; implementation is done through 17 Zonal Welfare Offices and 68 Divisional Welfare Inspectors. Expenditure on staff welfare is met out of “Demands 4 & 5 – Staff Welfare & Amenities” of the Railway Budget.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Statutory welfare ceiling under Factories Act | ₹500 per employee per annum (Railways enhanced it to ₹2,000) |
| 2. Staff Benefit Fund (SBF) collection | 0.5 % of total railway wages + equal Railway Board contribution |
| 3. SBF annual corpus (2023-24) | ₹510 crore |
| 4. Quantum of education aid from SBF | ₹3,000 (Class 1-8), ₹7,000 (Class 9-12), ₹20,000 (Graduation) |
| 5. Holiday-home accommodation charge | ₹50 per day (Group-C) & ₹100 per day (Group-B) |
| 6. No. of Railway Holiday Homes | 92 across India |
| 7. No. of Railway Institutes/Rail Nilayams | 487 |
| 8. No. of Staff Quarters | 9.8 lakh (65 % of employees housed) |
| 9. Quarters rent formula | 7.5 % of basic pay (HRA exempted) |
| 10. Quantum of Spectacle Grant | ₹300 for Glasses, ₹2,000 for Hearing Aid |
| 11. Financial assistance under “Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA) Alumni Scheme” | ₹1 lakh for coaching & ₹2 lakh on selection into UPSC/Engineering |
| 12. Railway Women & Child Welfare Organisation (RWCWO) formed | 1954 |
| 13. Creche running grant | ₹18,000 per month per creche (min. 10 kids) |
| 14. Quantum of Maternity Relief under SBF | ₹10,000 (female employee) |
| 15. Staff quota in Rajdhani/Shatabdi | 2 berths per coach (total 4 per train) |
| 16. Concession in train fare for Railway School picnic | 75 % in 2nd class for students + 50 % for escorting teachers |
| 17. Quantum of Funeral Advance | ₹15,000 (interest-free, recoverable in 10 instalments) |
| 18. Financial assistance for daughter’s marriage | ₹25,000 (from SBF) |
| 19. Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) formed | 1928 |
| 20. National Railway Pension Rules effective | 01-01-1993 (earlier Pension Scheme 1950) |
Important Points
- Staff Benefit Fund is audited by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India and is operated by a bipartite committee headed by DRM/PHOD with union representatives.
- Holiday Homes are built only at hill-stations/tourist places having a minimum rail head of 50,000 foot-fall per year.
- Railway Institutes are governed by the Railway Institute Rules, 1965; surplus from bar/auditorium is ploughed back for welfare.
- Railway employees are exempted from contributory Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) because Railways runs its own health-care system (Railway Hospitals).
- Residential accommodation is allotted through “Railway Quarter Allotment Committee (RQAC)” on seniority-cum-merit basis; eviction is done under Public Premises Act.
- Railway Schools are affiliated to CBSE, but staff-children get 50 % rebate in tuition fee.
- Staff Nurse & Paramedical staff get extra 30 % Nursing Allowance under Welfare budget.
- Railway Board sanctions “Work-Place Rest-Sheds” for running staff every 200 km; each shed has minimum 30 beds, recreation room & subsidised canteen.
- Women employees get 180 days maternity leave under Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, but Railways gives additional 42 days “Child Care Leave” in entire service.
- Pensioners are issued “Pensioner Concession Card” allowing 40 % concession in 2nd class & SL, but no concession in AC classes.
- Railway Employees’ Liberalised Health Scheme (RELHS) covers pensioners and spouse for ₹250 annual contribution; medical benefit is same as serving employees.
- Railway Minister’s discretionary quota has 10 berths per train for high-grade employees on medical/welfare grounds.
- “Earned Leave Encashment” up to 300 days is permissible once in entire service for daughter’s marriage or higher education of children.
- Railway Sports quota recruitment is 0.5 % of total induction; sports persons get 5 years relaxation in age and free railway pass for attending camps.
- Zonal Welfare Officers are required to inspect every staff colony once a quarter and submit “Welfare Inspection Report” to Railway Board.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- What is the percentage of salary contributed to Staff Benefit Fund by Railway administration?
- Who is the ex-officio Chairman of Divisional Staff Benefit Fund Committee?
- How many berths are earmarked for railway staff quota in premium trains?
- Under which demand number is staff welfare expenditure shown in Indian Railway Budget?
- Name the allowance paid exclusively to Railway Nurse & Paramedical staff under welfare head.
BETA
