Railways ECG Technicians Allotment of Qualification based Pay Matrix

Railways ECG Technicians Allotment of Qualification based Pay Matrix

Allotment of Qualification based Pay Matrix – ECG Technicians in Railways

Para 7.6.10 of the report of 7th CPC, the Commission recommended that in the interest of enhanced skill sets there is a definite merit in revisiting these qualifications, keeping in view the requirement of the jobs and availability of relevant courses in the country. In Para 7.6.12 of the report, the Commission felt that while job security, career prospects, work content, and emotional reasons to serve in this sector are important intrinsic motivators, pay continues to be an equally important factor for attracting and retaining talent in this sector and in subsequent Para No. 7.6.14, the Commission recommended well defined career paths and timely action to motivate health workers and improve health system efficiency.

NFIR
National Federation of India Railwaymen
3, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi – 110 055

No. II/1/2019-I

Dated: 14/01/2020

The Secretary (E)
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Allotment of Qualification based Pay Matrix – ECG Technicians in Railways.

Ref: (i) NFIR’s PNM item No. 60/2012.
(ii) NFIR’s letter No. IF 1 /Part XI dated 26/09/2016.
(iii) NFIR’s letter No. H/l/Part XII dated 23/01/2017.
(iv) Railway Board’s letter No. PC-VIF2016/R-U/40 dated 06/03/2017 to GS/NFIR.
(v) NFIR’s letter No. D/l/Part XII dated 08/11/2017.
(vi) NFIR’s letter No. IF1/2018 dated 30/07/2018.
(vii) Railway Board’s reply to GS/NFIR vide letter No. PC-VIF2018/R-U/8 dated 14/03/2019 (Item No. 5 of Annexure ‘A’).
(viii) NFIR’s letter No. IF1/2019 dated 30/03/2019 & 18/04/2019.

Kind attention of Railway Board is invited to Federation’s response vide letters dated 30/03/2019 and 18/04/2019, wherein the Federation while disagreeing with the plea taken by the Railway Ministry vide Item 5 of Annexure ‘A’ to Board’s reply to NFIR vide letter dated 14/03/2019 with regard to allotment of qualification based pay matrix to ECG Technicians in Railways, had furnished sufficient justification and requested the Railway Board to review and formulate a proposal for sending to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Nodal Ministry) and Ministry of Finance. Federation feels disappointed that though a period of over 09 months passed, no action has been taken on the legitimate demand of staff.

In this connection, Federation once again desires to convey to the Railway Board that the 7th CPC in its report had categorically mentioned that there is lack of standardization across health cadres as far as their entry level qualifications, pay scales, nomenclature and promotional avenues are concerned. The Commission in Para 7.6.8 brought out that career and promotional prospects of these cadres may vary across organizations, there should be broad uniformity as far as entry level qualification and pay scales of cadres with similar job contents are concerned. Accordingly, the Commission while attempting to prescribe uniform entry level qualification and pay scales, wanted the respective ministries/departments to adopt similar approach and accordingly made recommendations.

Further in Para 7.6.10 of the report of 7th CPC, the Commission recommended that in the interest of enhanced skill sets there is a definite merit in revisiting these qualifications, keeping in view the requirement of the jobs and availability of relevant courses in the country. In Para 7.6.12 of the report, the Commission felt that while job security, career prospects, work content, and emotional reasons to serve in this sector are important intrinsic motivators, pay continues to be an equally important factor for attracting and retaining talent in this sector and in subsequent Para No. 7.6.14, the Commission recommended well defined career paths and timely action to motivate health workers and improve health system efficiency.

Further to above, Federation desires to state that almost in all categories of Para-Medical Staff, the educational qualification is Graduation + Diploma (with specialty). Sc + one year experience in specialty in the respective job profile. While GP 4200/Pay Level-6 needs to be allotted to these categories of staff including isolated categories of Para-Medical staff, as re-casted vide Annexure ‘A’ to this letter, the avenue of promotion to these categories may be considered in the way as shown vide Annexure ‘B’ to this letter. Federation also states that the total number of Para-Medical Staff in isolated categories on Indian Railways is very small, 75% of which is working as ECG Technicians. This establishes that while negligible financial implications would be involved at entry level (as the staff have already been drawing higher pay), in promotional posts in higher pay level the financial implication will not be significant due to number of posts being very negligible.

NFIR, therefore, once again requests the Railway Board to kindly formulate proposal, based on the recommendations of 7th CPC as accepted by the Government, relating to entry level pay based on qualification, allotment of pay levels, nomenclature and promotional avenues for ECG and other Technicians of Para-Medical categories and forward the same to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare/Ministry of Finance for seeking clearance. A copy of the proposal sent, may be made available to the Federation to pursue the matter at the level of the Government.

Yours faithfully,

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR