The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Protests stall recruitment in SWR

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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Protests stall recruitment in SWR

Staff Reporter

RRB puts on hold recruitment to 2,000 Group C technical posts fearing backlash

Nearly 7,000 of the 40,000 sanctioned posts in SWR are vacant
Second train between Bangalore and Mangalore may take some more time

BANGALORE: The protests against “injustice” to Kannadigas in railway recruitment not only halted the Group D recruitment process in the South Western Railway (SWR), but also have affected recruitment of to nearly 2,000 Group C technical posts, including that of assistant loco drivers and assistant station masters.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a souvenir release function here on Wednesday, SWR General Manager Praveen Kumar said the Railway Recruitment Board, Bangalore, has reportedly put on hold the recruitment process of Group C posts.

Stating that job aspirants from Karnataka will stand to gain as the recruitment process was being held within the State, Mr. Kumar said the railways will continue to be helpless to assure local recruitment unless the Constitution and the recruitment rules are amended.

As a newly created zone, working of SWR continues to be hindered by shortage of staff. As of now, nearly 7,000 out of 40,000 sanctioned posts are vacant. New trains are being added regularly and augmentation of services needs constant increase in manpower, he said.

Track safety

On introduction of new trains on the Sakaleshpur–Subramanya Road (ghat) section between Hassan and Mangalore, Mr. Kumar said the SWR will wait till the end of the next monsoon. The track can handle seven pairs of trains a day and presently five pairs, including one passenger, are running.

The ghat section witnessed 27 landslips last monsoon and the SWR will install safety measures on the lines of the Konkan Railway, including the “bouldernetting,” and anti-collision device. Bouldernetting is a technology where steel ropes are spread over land cuttings which are prone to landslips.

Mr. Kumar said there was no question of withholding the second train (day train via Arsikere) between Bangalore and Mangalore, but it may take some more time.

Earlier, Mr. Kumar released a souvenir brought out by the SWR Women’s Welfare Organisation. Commending the organisation, Mr. Kumar said its members had been doing excellent work in offering quality education to the children of railway employees. Bangalore Divisional Railway Manager Mahesh Mangal said the next focus of the organisation should be towards service to passengers.

The organisation, comprising wives of railway employees, is running several schools, including Stepping Stones Nursery Schools and primary schools at various locations, for the benefit of railway employees. Organisation president (Headquarters) Rita Kumar and president (Division) Sunita Mangal were present.

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