Agitation at Trivandrum Division

REPORT ON AGITATION AT TRIVANDRUM DIVISION OF SOUTHERN RAILWAY

Inhuman punishments, unethical approach of Medical Officers, countless charge sheets and the delay in settling personnel grievances made the Divisional Committee of AILRSA to chart out the following programme to protest against the anti-running staff attitude of DRM and his puppet officers in TVC Division which were carried out in a befitting manner. From 26th May for a week individual letter quoting numerous atrocities of Divisional Administration were sent to Minister of Railways.

On 30.05.09, Family dharna took place at ERS, QLN, and NCJ crew depots. Com.Chandran Pillai, Ex.M.P inaugurated the huge dharna of kith and kin of running staff at ERS. Com.J.Mercykutty Amma, All India Vice President /CITU inaugurated at QLN depot in which Com.Sabita Begum, Ex. Mayor was the chief guest. Com.C.S.Kishor, Divl.President inaugurated Family dharna at NCJ.

Despite the threat of DRM’s office to arrest the protesters, Protest Demonstration were held at QLN, ERS and TVC railway stations on 6’Th, 10’Th and 12’th of June and burned the effigy of Titus.P.Koshy DRM/TVC. This was also the protest of the staff for the illegal opening of RPF case on staff who pasted posters.

Com.Varkala Radhakrishnan, Ex. M.P, inaugurated the indefinite Hunger Fast in front of DRM office on 15.06.09. Com.Sampath M.P, Com.P.Karunakaran M.P and various trade union leaders visited the satyagrahis and offered solidarity to this nonviolent struggle. Com.K.P.Varghese/ERS, Com.K.Rajeev/QLN, N.S.Potti/NCJ were the satyagrahis. The Railway Administration tried its all efforts to ignore this protest by its ‘no-talk’ method but it strengthened. On the third day our delegates spoke to Divisional officers headed by DRM/TVC and made their sweat out. Honoring the assurances given by GM/SR to Janakiraman GS/DREU, Com.R.Elangovan Working President/DREU, Com.Balachandran Divl.Secy/AILRSA the hunger fast was withdrawn on 17.06.09.Com.V.Sivankutty MLA gave tender coconut to satyagrahis to end the fast.