One percent of Railway employees never report to duty

A good 13000 railway employees have been drawing salaries and enjoying all the perks, but never report to duties. These are unauthorized absentees who have never reported to the office in a long time.

This came to light during a massive drive undertaken by the railway officials at the behest of Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal. To their shock, the authorities found that 13000 of the 13 lakh railway workforce are absentee employees and their absence has not been authorized. "A massive drive to identify long-term absentees in various establishments of Railways has been initiated. As a result of the drive, more than 13,000 employees out of about 13 lakh employees were found to be on unauthorised absence for a long time," a statement released by the railways has said. This amounts to 1 percent of the total workforce.

Indian railways Sources said there are several cases where the employees come, sign in the muster and then leave the office for their personal work. Many are found to be busy with the employees’ union work.

The Railways is also trying to boost the morale of sincere and hardworking employees. The authorities are taking steps to terminate these erring employees. A statement by the railway authorities said:  "Railways have instructed all officers and supervisors to weed out these employees from the employees' rolls after following due process.”