Title - Muttemwar backs SECR staff opposing transfer to Nainpur

NAGPUR: City MP Vilas Muttemwar on Saturday met a senior South East Central Railway (SECR) official at Motibagh Diesel shed in order to support the SECR Men's Congress, which is against the transfer of employees to Nainpur in Madhya Pradesh.SECR is in the process of converting narrow gauge lines into broad gauge in the division. As a result, the workload will increase at Nainpur station.Explaining the reason for his involvement, Muttemwar said, "The demand is justified. The staff is already settled here and will face a lot of problems if transferred, especially to another state. The employees should be engaged in other works here itself."P Laxminarayan, divisional coordinator of SECR Men's Congress, said, "Muttemwar met senior divisional mechanical engineer (SrDME), (diesel) BK Rath. We do not want a single employee to get transferred. At the most, we can accept the move if the employees are sent on travelling allowance (TA) basis."

Justifying their opposition, he added that the employees have school going children and change in boards could prove to be difficult for them.

The organization also feels that staff from particular region should be deployed at stations in that area only. Another suggestion was regarding commissioning apprentices who have completed their training. In fact, this also come up from the apprentices themselves.

"We are young and don't have family responsibilities. We are sitting idle after completing our training. Why not commission us at Nainpur instead of forcing employees who do not want to go?" said an apprentice.

He added that about 100 apprentices, starting from the 2009 batch to the current lot, are waiting to be inducted into service. "There are reports that about 125 transfer have been already issued," he said

Laxminarayan too agreed that apprentices should be transferred to Nainpur. Muttemwar also supported the idea and said the Railways itself might come up with such a solution. "I will take up the issue with the railway minister," he said.

Railway officials confirmed that the issue has been discussed and this could be the first step towards finding a solution.