Every zonal railway has a welfare organisation headed by the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO). At divisions and workshops, Senior DPOs and Workshop Personnel Officers, assisted by APOs and Staff & Welfare Inspectors, look after day-to-day welfare work and individual grievances.
- Welfare measures include railway institutes and clubs, schools, sports, cultural associations, Children Education Allowance, holiday homes, scouts and guides, canteens, handicraft centres and Mahila Samitis, vocational training centres, co-operative societies, mobile libraries, medical facilities and the Staff Benefit Fund.
Staff Benefit Fund (SBF)
- Each zonal railway keeps an SBF, mainly for non-gazetted staff.
- Sources: fines recovered under the Payment of Wages Act, forfeited PF and bonus, and an annual grant from railway revenue at Rs 800 per head of sanctioned non-gazetted strength, credited on 1 April.
- Objects: education of staff and children where no other assistance exists, recreation, relief of distress, sickness or maternity help not covered by medical rules, and any other object approved by the GM.
| SBF committee | Headquarters | Division / workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | PCPO | Sr. DPO / WPO |
| Secretary | Personnel Officer | Staff & Welfare Inspector |
| Staff-side members | 6 from each recognised union | 2 from each recognised union |
Children Education Allowance (CEA)
- CEA and reimbursement of tuition fees were merged into one Children Education Allowance scheme.
- Admissible for the 2 eldest surviving children (more if the second birth is twins or multiple).
- CEA is Rs 2,250 a month (annual ceiling Rs 27,000) and hostel subsidy Rs 6,750 a month (annual ceiling Rs 81,000); both can be claimed together. For a child with a disability, CEA is double, Rs 4,500 a month.
- Covers classes from 2 classes before nursery up to Class XII; upper age limit 20 years (22 for a child with a disability).
- Hostel subsidy only if the residential school is at least 50 km from the employee's residence. If both parents are government servants, only one can claim.
- CEA is not stopped if a child fails, and is admissible during leave or suspension, but not for any period treated as dies-non.
Canteens
- Statutory canteens: under Section 46 of the Factories Act, 1948, where 250 or more workers are employed; run by a staff management committee on no-profit, no-loss basis, with the railway meeting the cost of building and equipment.
- Non-statutory canteens: a tiffin room where staff strength is 25 to less than 100, and a regular canteen where it is 100 or more.
Other Welfare Measures
- Railway institutes and clubs: premises, electrical installation and furniture provided free; membership optional with a nominal subscription; SBF helps with running costs.
- Schools: education is a State subject, so Railways provide schools only where no other provision exists in railway colonies.
- Holiday homes at places of interest, at nominal rent, open to staff of all railways and to retired employees.
- Scouts and Guides: each railway's association is a branch of the Bharat Scouts and Guides; up to 4 Group C posts a year per railway can be filled against the scouts quota.
- Mobile libraries carry books to staff at wayside stations; haulage is paid by railway revenue and books by the SBF.
- Co-operative societies (consumer, credit, housing) get help such as concessional rent, recovery of dues through pay bills, and special passes and special casual leave for managing committee members.
Exam Focus
PCPO chairs the zonal SBF committee; SBF grant Rs 800 per head; fines under the Payment of Wages Act go to the SBF; CEA Rs 2,250 and hostel subsidy Rs 6,750 a month for 2 children; statutory canteen where 250 or more workers; hostel subsidy only beyond 50 km.