World Bank holds workshop on “Accounting for Accountability” in collaboration with Ministry of Railways
World Bank holds workshop on “Accounting for Accountability” in collaboration with Ministry of Railways
The workshop is part of concerted efforts to implement the major initiative of Indian Railways on introducing Accounting Reforms as announced in 2015-16 Railway Budget.
Suresh Prabhu stresses for a system approach in developing an integrated IT enabled accounting architecture
Institute of Chartered Accounts of India (ICAI) assisted by an Advisory Body of Experts is working on an Integrated Outcome Budgeting and Performance Costing System
A pilot project on Accrual Accounting is underway at Ajmer Division of Indian Railways
As a part of its concerted effort to introduce the major initiative of ‘Accounting Reforms’ in Indian Railways as per the 2015-16 Rail Budget announcement of the Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, several Workshops and seminars are being planned and organised. Continuing with such efforts another important Workshop, to share global experience, was held here today i.e. 07-10-2015 by the World Bank on “Accounting for Accountability”. It was organised in collaboration with Ministry of Railways. The Workshop was chaired by Minister of Railways Sh. Suresh Prabhu. It was attended by senior officials of the Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Railway PSUs and participants from the ICAI and the World Bank. A delegation of speakers, from various countries like New Zealand, Australia, Poland and USA, with expertise in railway operations, participated in the workshop and made presentations addressing operational and financial aspects of rail operations for small, mid size and large railway networks.
The Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu while addressing the Workshop emphasised that the project initiated by Indian Railways for introducing Accounting Reforms assumes greater relevance today considering the fact that Indian Railways is embarking on huge investments in infrastructure both from government and institutional finance. The resources thus would need to be used in the most diligent manner. In this context he stressed the need for a system approach in developing an integrated IT enabled accounting architecture with a clear focus on measurement of outputs and outcomes of operational activities while formulating the budget. The Minister also emphasised the need to focus on the determination of cost of services with an aim to determine a rational pricing structure for the Railways. The proposed accounting framework would provide greater transparency and promote good governance, he said.
The other speakers at the workshop shared their experience of transforming their respective accounting systems to serve management need for activity based unit costing and outcome budgeting for informed decision making for efficient operations and cost controls
Minister of Railways, in the budget speech of 2015-16, had announced the formation of a Working Group to modify the present accounting system of Indian Railways to enable tracking of expenditure to desired outcomes and online availability of costing data in key performance areas like operation, construction, capacity augmentation, maintenance and post asset commissioning evaluation.
In order to give effect to the budget announcement, Indian Railways has engaged the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in developing a design for implementing an integrated Outcome Budgeting and Performance Costing System. An Advisory Body consisting of domain experts and a multi disciplinary Working Group of Railways has been constituted to assist the ICAI in designing a detailed framework of proposed accounting system as envisaged in the budget announcement.
In addition, IR is also conducting a pilot study on introduction of Accrual Accounting at Ajmer Division and Ajmer group of Workshops with the assistance of the Accounting Research Foundation of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
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Scope of Facility to Book Train Berth under Senior Citizen Quota Enhanced
With a view to meet the requirements of senior citizens, ladies passengers above the age of 45 and pregnant women travelling alone in trains, a reservation quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper, 3AC & 2AC classes was earmarked for these categories of passengers in all trains having sleeping accommodation in 2007. Recently, this accommodation earmarked in Sleeper class has been enhanced to four lower berths per coach instead of two lower berths per coach as per earlier provision. There is, however, no change in the number of lower berths earmarked in 3AC and 2AC classes.
Complaints were being received that in case two senior citizens (husband and wife) want to book berth under this quota, they are denied this facility despite the fact that both of them are senior citizens. It was, therefore, being requested that this facility should be provided even when two senior citizens are going together.
The reason for allowing senior citizens to book tickets under this quota only when travelling alone was that since only two/four lower berths per coach are being earmarked, there is a possibility that when two senior citizens travelling together book the ticket, they may get a scattered accommodation in two different coaches where the lower berths might be available. This will be the cause of complaint and then references will be received as to how the railway is facilitating two senior citizens by giving them scattered accommodation in two different coaches.
However, keeping in view the demands for providing this facility even when more than one passenger are travelling, it was decided that the facility of booking tickets under senior citizen quota may be provided where in a single application, even if two passengers are in combination of senior citizens /female passengers above the age of 45 years/pregnant women. This facility can be availed only if both the passengers intending to avail this facility are eligible to book berth under senior citizen quota i.e. either both of them should be senior citizens or ladies above the age of 45 or pregnant women or a combination of one senior citizen and one lady above the age of 45 or pregnant women, etc.
From above, it is evident that vide New Commercial Circular No. 51, of Railway Board 2015, the scope of facility already available to senior citizens, female passengers above the age of 45 years and pregnant women to book accommodation under senior citizen quota has been enhanced. Earlier senior citizens /female passengers above the age of 45 years/pregnant women could book accommodation under this quota only when travelling alone whereas now they will be able to book accommodation even when two passengers of these categories (either both from the same category or combination of one from any two categories) are travelling.
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Complaints were being received that in case two senior citizens (husband and wife) want to book berth under this quota, they are denied this facility despite the fact that both of them are senior citizens. It was, therefore, being requested that this facility should be provided even when two senior citizens are going together.
The reason for allowing senior citizens to book tickets under this quota only when travelling alone was that since only two/four lower berths per coach are being earmarked, there is a possibility that when two senior citizens travelling together book the ticket, they may get a scattered accommodation in two different coaches where the lower berths might be available. This will be the cause of complaint and then references will be received as to how the railway is facilitating two senior citizens by giving them scattered accommodation in two different coaches.
However, keeping in view the demands for providing this facility even when more than one passenger are travelling, it was decided that the facility of booking tickets under senior citizen quota may be provided where in a single application, even if two passengers are in combination of senior citizens /female passengers above the age of 45 years/pregnant women. This facility can be availed only if both the passengers intending to avail this facility are eligible to book berth under senior citizen quota i.e. either both of them should be senior citizens or ladies above the age of 45 or pregnant women or a combination of one senior citizen and one lady above the age of 45 or pregnant women, etc.
From above, it is evident that vide New Commercial Circular No. 51, of Railway Board 2015, the scope of facility already available to senior citizens, female passengers above the age of 45 years and pregnant women to book accommodation under senior citizen quota has been enhanced. Earlier senior citizens /female passengers above the age of 45 years/pregnant women could book accommodation under this quota only when travelling alone whereas now they will be able to book accommodation even when two passengers of these categories (either both from the same category or combination of one from any two categories) are travelling.
Union Home Minister Presents Award of Excellence to Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the Field of Anti Human Trafficking
DG RPF Receives the Award
DG RPF Receives the Award
Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, presented a Certificate of Excellence to Shri Rajiva Ranjan Verma, Director General / RPF, this commendable contribution of Railway Protection Force (RPF) during “Operation Smile”, in the field of Anti Human Trafficking. It was presented in a function on National Conference of Anti Human Trafficking held at New Delhi today i.e. 07.10.2015.
Human Trafficking, especially, those of women and children from backward and remote areas of the country to the urban cities centres and metropolises has become a major problem in recent years. Indian Railways, being the cheapest mode of travel across the country is often used by the criminals to carry trafficked people from one place to another. Taking a lead to curve the menace, in trains as well as on the Railway premises, Indian Railways has formed the Child Protection Committees at various railway stations across the country. The Railway Protection Force, being the most active component of Child Protection Committees has played a vital role in rescuing trafficking children and handing them over to either legitimate guardians, or authorized NGOs, working in this field. In the year 2013 - 4658 minor children, in the year 2014 – 4448 and in the current year, so far 3969 Trafficking minor children, have been rescued by the RPF personnel.
The award is recognition of commendable contribution of RPF in the field of Anti Human Trafficking.
Human Trafficking, especially, those of women and children from backward and remote areas of the country to the urban cities centres and metropolises has become a major problem in recent years. Indian Railways, being the cheapest mode of travel across the country is often used by the criminals to carry trafficked people from one place to another. Taking a lead to curve the menace, in trains as well as on the Railway premises, Indian Railways has formed the Child Protection Committees at various railway stations across the country. The Railway Protection Force, being the most active component of Child Protection Committees has played a vital role in rescuing trafficking children and handing them over to either legitimate guardians, or authorized NGOs, working in this field. In the year 2013 - 4658 minor children, in the year 2014 – 4448 and in the current year, so far 3969 Trafficking minor children, have been rescued by the RPF personnel.
The award is recognition of commendable contribution of RPF in the field of Anti Human Trafficking.
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Productivity Linked Bonus for Railway Employee
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Production Linked Bonus for Railway Employees.
As a result of the review of the scheme and approval of the Cabinet the salient features of the PLB scheme are as under: -
a) The output for a year is reckoned by the equated net tonne kilometres by adding together:-
i) total goods revenue net tonne kilometres.
ii) non-suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.076.
iii) suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.053.
b) The input is taken as the non-gazetted staff strength (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel), increased by the incremental increase/decrease in capital (over average of last three years) during the year. Incremental capital is confined to Rolling Stock utilised for movement of trains. The relative weights given are 0.50 for Tractive Effort, 0.20 for Wagon Capacity and 0.30 for Seating Capacity. The labour input i.e. non-gazetted staff strength is then increased to the extent of the percentage increase in the incremental capital.
Highest PLB amount of 78 days' wages was paid for the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. This year also PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages will be paid considering the good financial performance which is expected to motivate employees for working towards improving the same in future.
The financial implication of payment of 78 days' PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 1030.02 crore. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is 3500/- p.m. The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 8975 for 78 days.
About 12.58 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision.
The Productivity Linked Bonus on Railway covers all non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) who are spread over the entire country.
Background:
The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on October 2015 accepted the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages for the financial year 2014-2015 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).
As a result of the review of the scheme and approval of the Cabinet the salient features of the PLB scheme are as under: -
a) The output for a year is reckoned by the equated net tonne kilometres by adding together:-
i) total goods revenue net tonne kilometres.
ii) non-suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.076.
iii) suburban passenger kilometres converted by a factor of 0.053.
b) The input is taken as the non-gazetted staff strength (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel), increased by the incremental increase/decrease in capital (over average of last three years) during the year. Incremental capital is confined to Rolling Stock utilised for movement of trains. The relative weights given are 0.50 for Tractive Effort, 0.20 for Wagon Capacity and 0.30 for Seating Capacity. The labour input i.e. non-gazetted staff strength is then increased to the extent of the percentage increase in the incremental capital.
Highest PLB amount of 78 days' wages was paid for the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. This year also PLB equivalent to 78 days' wages will be paid considering the good financial performance which is expected to motivate employees for working towards improving the same in future.
The financial implication of payment of 78 days' PLB to railway employees has been estimated to be Rs. 1030.02 crore. The wage calculation ceiling prescribed for payment of PLB to the eligible non-gazetted railway employees is 3500/- p.m. The maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is Rs. 8975 for 78 days.
About 12.58 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees are likely to benefit from the decision.
The Productivity Linked Bonus on Railway covers all non-gazetted railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) who are spread over the entire country.
Background:
The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on October 2015 accepted the proposal of the Ministry of Railways for payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days' wages for the financial year 2014-2015 for all eligible non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel).
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