Railyatri/Upbhokta Pakhwada” (Passenger and customer Facilitation fortnight)- 26.05.2015 to 09.06.2015 Marks a New Inflexion in Railway Services
An unprecedented and historical nationwide massive public outreach event gets connected to over 7 million passenger and public
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
- Abraham Lincoln
Our limitations are only those of the mind. When the common rail traveler found the state of cleanliness at major railway stations vexatious, he resigned himself stoically to a deep-seated belief that he may not see the change. But change was possible and was made through consistent endeavor with the constitution of a separate Swacch Rail Swacch Bharat nodal point at the apex with down-the-line links upto grassroots level. one of the distinctive programmes in recent years in public service that too on a country-wide scale by Indian Railways as a mass transportation organization was the Rail Yatri Upboktha Pakhwada 2015 organised from 26.05.2015 to 30.06.2015.
A programme that is evocative of the desire and hope expressed in the above lines by Lincoln and indeed by every right-minded citizen of the country, the Rail Yatri Pakhwada was reflective of the commitment of the Indian Railways to not only spruce up its premises but also re-orient itself to the changing needs of the travelling public. Re-engineering internal processes and reviewing real-time needs through face-to-face interactions, Rail Pe Charchas, through inter-institutional meetings to clear road blocks, plans for ROBs/ RUBs worked out, securing intuitional help of larger public sector units under CSR, stepping-up safety awareness and vigilance awareness campaigns, the Indian Railways got closer to the public and to the compelling needs of large and small stations. Publicity programmes through posters, Nukkad Nataks drove home the central point to the general public that the Railways is their travelling home. Rs. 4,000 crore worth projects were commissioned/opened, work on 73 projects worth Rs. 550 crore was commenced, 27,700 drives/inspections/checks were organized, 4000 road shows undertaken in the mega event. While Five S- SEVA (Service), SAMAPRAN (Dedication), SAHYOG (Cooperation/participation),SANKALP(Commitment) and SAMPARK (Outreach)marking Railways commitment strengthened the framework of the programme, it marked a turning point as the largest outreach programme of Indian Railways, the mass transportation organization.
Committed leadership and team spirit went hand-in-hand in setting positive tones for the well-received and sustained Customer and Passenger Facilitation Programme- Rail Yatri Upboktha Pakhwada 2015 held on Northern Railway from 26.05.2015 to 09.06.2015. The broad-base of this programme was both to strengthen User experience and re –define modes of customer/passenger services delivery. A broad action plan was drawn with 22 defined areas and divisions formulated their plans to implement these areas. Spelling the Railway’s social commitments loud and clear, Northern Railway commenced the Programme by organizing a Seminar on “Gender Sensitization and Child Trafficking” at National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi in collaboration with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (NGO) working in the field.
In an effort to ensure better quality of services, the Pakhwada marked focused efforts in each area of concern. Swach Bharat Programme:-
1.Rail Pe Charcha: An interactive programme Rail Pe Charcha is primarily aimed to elicit feedback from rail users. GM/NR along with DRM/DLI held Rail Pe Charcha at New Delhi station and undertook on-board journey of New Delhi-Palwal EMU where he interacted with daily commuters. Feedback forms were sought from rail passengers at major stations on daily basis.
2.Level-Crossing Safety: Safety Seminar were organised on Platform using Screen and Projectors, Pasting of stickers on trains at major Stations were also held. Nukkad Nataks on safety were held near level crossing gates, schools, Panchayats, taxi stands etc.
3.Health Camps: The Medical Camp of Northern Railway organised 242 health camps in which around 16,587 persons participated. The beneficiaries include passengers, vendors, coolies, police personnel.
4.Swacch Rail, Swacch Bharat: Employee enthusiasm was demonstrated at Swach Rail drives undertaken through Shramdaan initiatives. Anti-littering drives were underway at major stations. Nukkad Nataks were organised on station platforms on the theme of Cleanliness. C& W staff monitored cleanliness of trains at primary/secondary maintenance bay areas. Quality of drinkable water at Stations and Railway Colonies Cleanliness was monitored & corrective measures taken. Special Drive for maintenance of Bio-Toilets, Fumigation of coaches at yards were also undertaken.
5.Ticket Checking Drives:
6.Catering Inspections: Northern Railway provides a noteworthy catering service of one lakh meals per day. E-catering services have been initiated on 6 popular trains on Northern Railway. Tenders have been finalized for catering in around 40 pairs of trains. In addition to this, catering services are provided through Train- side vending on 105 Mail/Express trains in which pantry car services are not available. To ensure quality, Catering inspections were done on board trains.
7.Punctuality Drives: All Divisions drew schedules wherein officers were nominated to undertake foot-plate(from engine cab) inspections to ensure timely running of trains.
8.Seminars Organised: As part of its commitment towards prevention of social crimes on railway premises and in trains, Northern Railway also organized a seminar on “Gender Sensitization and Child Trafficking” at National Rail Museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi in collaboration with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (NGO) working in the field.
9.A seminar on women security was organized at Amritsar with participation by Bhairavi and Vaishali team
A Photo Exhibition on 150 years of Railways in Delhi was inaugurated in the Ceremonial Hall of New Delhi station. An exhibition of cleaning equipments for station cleanliness and coach cleanliness was organization with co-participation by industries dealing with cleanliness equipments.
10.Participation of Volunteer Groups & Civil Defence Teams: a public awareness campaign was organized by Civil Defence team & Northern Railway Scouts & Guides.
11.Road Shows: Road shows were organized by DRM Lucknow at Lucknow and ADRM at Varanasi
12.Railway Union Leaders as Brand-Ambassadors: The Railway has associated leaders of its recognized Unions as Brand Ambassadors for interaction with passengers and for highlighting the priorities and achievements of the Railway. In this direction, the All India Railway Men’s Federation(AIRF) held a topical seminar on the occasion of the Pakhwada- “Swacch Railway Abhiyaan-Rail Users and Railwaymen” at AIRF Headquarters Office, State Entry Road, New Delhi.
Northern Railway is in the process of compiling& analyzing the record of activities undertaken, identifying loop-holes or areas where better solutions are warranted and make this fortnight as a turning point in public service delivery. The feedback received shall re-defining priorities & future targets and mark new inflexions in railway services.
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