Ministry of Railways - 6th ( VI ) Central Pay Commission Report

7.36.5 Railway Board is the apex body in the Ministry of Railways. It is headed by a Chairman, 5 Members and 1 Financial Commissioner. Chairman, Railway Board is an ex-officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India. The Chairman, 5 Members and the Financial Commissioner are in the pay scale of Rs.26000 (Fixed). The Members are assisted by Additional Members in the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) Rs.22400-24500. Below Additional Members, there are different Directorates headed by Executive Directors in the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) of Rs.18400-22400. The Executive Directors are assisted by Directors, Joint Directors and Deputy Directors in respective pay scales of Rs.14300-18300; Rs.12000-16500 and Rs.10000-15200. Director General Railway Health Service and Director General RPF report to the Member (Staff). The other 4 posts of Members are Member (Electrical), Member (Engineering), Member (Mechanical) and Member (Traffic). All the Members and Financial Commissioner are ex-officio Secretaries to the Government of India.

Presently,   the   pay  scale   of  Chairman   as  well   as  other Members of Railway Board is Rs.26000 (fixed).   Traditionally, the status  of Chairman  has  been  that of Principal   Secretary to the Government of India.   Railway Ministry has proposed that the pay scale of Chairman, Railway Board should be brought on par with that of the Cabinet Secretary viz. Rs.30000 (fixed).

Recommendation 7.36.9 It is observed that a similar demand was made before the Fifth Central Pay Commission who however recommended that the Chairman should be considered as first amongst equals. The Fifth CPC had, accordingly, recommended that pay scale of all Members of the Railway Board including the Chairman should continue to be Rs.26000 (fixed). This recommendation of the Fifth Central pay Commission     is    justified.               The    Commission,    accordingly, recommends no change in the status or pay scale attached to the post of Chairman, Railway Board.

Unskilled workers  in Railways    7.36.10 Various associations of Railway Staff have contended that with growing modernization, both in the field and in offices, there is no unskilled job left. It has been stated that even the Helpers working in the workshops, open line, sheds etc. have to possess elementary knowledge of technology. Reference has been made to the enhancement by the Railway Board of the minimum qualifications to Matriculation plus ITI for appointments as Khalasi (now Helper) of Diesel Loco Shed, Electric Loco Shed, EMU Car Shed, Track Maintenance Machines, etc. This was done in 1982. Subsequently, the Fifth CPC, in their report, recommended that staff recruited with prescribed qualification of Matriculation should be allotted the pay scale of Rs.950-1500 corresponding to the revised pay scale of Rs.3050-4590. Immediately after that, the Railway Board issued orders lowering prescribed recruitment qualification for all the Khalasis (now Helpers) including Khalasis in Diesel Loco Shed, Electric Loco Shed, EMU Car Shed and Track Maintenance organisation.