NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Politics
India

Over 10,000 Jobs to Be Affected in Rail Sector with Proposal to Delink Pantry Cars

Since each pantry car involves engagement of 20 to 30 staff members including cooks and waiters, the decision is likely to affect over 10,000 jobs as per a most conservative estimate.
Arun Kumar Das
18 Oct 2020
Pantry Car Indian Railways

New Delhi: Passengers carrying their own food and bedroll even after the COVID-19 pandemic has been controlled will perhaps be the new normal as Indian Railways is going ahead with the proposal of doing away with pantry cars from over 300 trains—replacing them with AC 3-tier coaches—and also discontinuing the linen service to beef up its revenue.

Instead, the Railways plans to have base kitchens at major stations operational to provide packed food to the passengers. E-catering would be another option.

Notwithstanding the fact that delinking pantry cars would adversely affect livelihoods of the people engaged in rail catering business for years, the proposal to delink pantry cars has interestingly come from two major railway unions as one of the revenue-boosting measures and not surprisingly, the national transporter has accepted it.

There are around 350 pairs of trains including Mail/Express, Superfast and Premier services that are accompanied by pantry cars.

Since each pantry car involves engagement of 20 to 30 staff members including cooks and waiters, the decision is likely to affect over 10,000 jobs as per a most conservative estimate.

However, both the unions have defended their suggestion and maintained that the staff engaged in pantry cars is not Railways staff, as the catering is done by private contractors.

"These pantry cars do not earn any passenger revenue for Railways, but occupy space of one passenger coach. Pantry car catering services can be replaced by e-catering, base kitchens, train-side vending and Railways may replace pantry cars with AC 3-tier coaches," said National Federation of Indian Railwaymen General Secretary M Raghvaiah.

Elimination of pantry cars and attaching AC 3-tier Coach would fetch additional revenue of about Rs 1,400 crore annually, he said.

All India Railwaymen's Federation General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said, "Food can be provided by base kitchens which are there at major railway stations across the country. So, passengers will not be deprived of catering services.”

“This will not affect the Railways employees because they are not involved in pantry car operation. These services are outsourced to private contractors. The Railways does not generate revenue through its kitchen or pantry services anyway.”

Earlier, the Railways had decided to stop providing linen sets in the trains as a cost cutting and also an anti-Covid measure.

"The online catering and linen service were discontinued in all trains due to the coronavirus pandemic and the number of train services was also reduced. However, the train without a pantry car would be the new normal even after the pandemic, while passengers would be given the option to buy disposable linen from stations," said a senior Railway Ministry official involved in passenger amenities work.

The linen service provides pillows, bedsheets, hand towels and blankets for the AC coach passengers.

The official further said that while all base kitchens would be operational, catering services in trains can also be provided by train-side vending, static catering units at stations en route, and by e-catering services.

Reeling under severe financial stress, Railways is considering several steps to cut costs and explore innovative ways to increase earnings.

In June, Railway Financial Commissioner had written to all zones, calling for a freeze on the creation of new posts, removal of retired and re-engaged staff, shifting outsourced activities to corporate social responsibility funds, moving ceremonial functions to digital platforms, and an immediate review and possible closure of uneconomic branch lines, among other measures.

Traffic revenue of the Indian Railways had fallen by 42.3% between March and August compared to the corresponding period last year, as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

Railway unions have suggested curtailment of wasteful expenditures like  furnishing of offices, colour-washing of office buildings, which are to be suspended for at least two years.

Besides, expenditures on various activities like sports, cultural, scouts, committees, seminars, annually scheduled meetings of various departments are being reviewed to prevent wastage.

"Projects which are financially not viable may be shelved at least for now," unions maintain.

So if the Railways indeed goes ahead with delinking pantry cars from trains, not only the prospect of having piping hot meals of one's choice during a long journey would soon become a thing of the past, the move would adversely affect rail sector's job opportunities as well.

Also read: Manesar: Unionisation of Contract Labour a Big Step Forward, But New Challenges Ahead

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Indian Railways
COVID-19
Pantry Cars
Linen Service
Railway Unions
Related Stories
covid 19 vaccine J&K

COVID-19: Amid Apprehensions, over 3,700 Vaccinated in J&K in Two Days

100 Former Civil Servants Raise Questions on Transparency in PM-CARES Fund

100 Former Civil Servants Raise Questions on Transparency in PM-CARES Fund

TN This week.

TN This Week: ‘Unwanted’ Farm Laws Set on Fire; Crop Damage Dampens Harvest Festival

60 Israeli teens reject military service over Israeli apartheid, neoliberalism, and denial of the Nakba

60 Israeli Teens Reject Military Service Over Israeli Apartheid, Neoliberalism, and Denial of the Nakba

Covaxin Controversy

Covaxin Controversy: Death, Enrolment for Payment Allege Volunteers, Authorities Deny

Migrant workers heading to camp from drop point in Sonapur, UAE.

Unresolved Labour Cases Pileup at Indian Embassies

COVID Vaccine in India

Pseudo Nationalism Trumps Science in Vaccine Clearance

TN: Differently-Abled Claim Discrimination by State Government in Pongal Cash Gift

TN: Differently-Abled Claim Discrimination by State Government in Pongal Cash Gift

How Long Must Poorer Nations Wait for Access to Covid Vaccine?

How Long Must Poorer Nations Wait for Access to Covid Vaccine?

Water Bodies Trading

Future Trade in Water Bodes Poorly for Earth and its Communities

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Yanis Iqbal

USA’s Game Plan in Venezuela: Strangulation through Sanctions

21 January 2021
On 19 January, 2021, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals, fourteen entit
Rabindra Nath Sinha

COVID-19: WB Doctors Forum Lists Concerns about Vaccine, Resents Dilution of Protocol

20 January 2021
Kolkata, January 19: Despite the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Associated Press

South Africa's Trailblazing Black Food Writer Dies of COVID-19

19 January 2021
Johannesburg: South Africa's trailblazin

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • Without Salaries for Months, Cash-Starved PSUs Employees Protest in J&K

    Without Salaries for Months, Cash-Starved PSUs Employees Protest in J&K

  • Govt Mistaken That Only Punjab, Haryana Farmers in Battle Against Agri Laws: Hemant Soren

    Govt Mistaken That Only Punjab, Haryana Farmers in Battle Against Agri Laws: Hemant Soren

  • Fire in Serum Institute in Pune; Covishield Facility Not Affected

    5 Dead in Serum Institute Fire in Pune; Covishield Facility Not Affected

  • Two More Journalists’ Bodies Condemn Adani Group’s ‘Relentless’ Pursuit of Matter Against Journalist

    Two More Journalists’ Bodies Condemn Adani Group’s ‘Relentless’ Pursuit of Matter Against Journalist

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about