Retired railway employees seek restoration of manual privilege pass system
Senior former railway trade union leader and Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC) member Chalasani Gandhi has called on the Railway Administration to restore the manual system for issuing Privilege Passes to retired railway employees, saying the online-only process has created difficulties for many senior citizens.
In a statement, Mr. Gandhi said that while the digital platform may work well for serving employees, many retired railway personnel, particularly those above 70 years of age and elderly women, face challenges in using it because of limited digital literacy, age-related health issues and physical limitations. As a result, many have had to make repeated visits to railway offices to obtain their travel passes.
According to Mr. Gandhi, the withdrawal of the manual application process, reportedly following Railway Board directives, has prevented many retirees from availing themselves of the free travel concession. He said several pensioners have been forced to purchase railway tickets at their own expense to visit family members or attend to medical and other personal needs.
Referring to the Centre’s focus on citizen-centric services for senior citizens, Mr. Gandhi pointed out that several public institutions, including banks, have introduced doorstep services for elderly customers. Making the online platform the only option for retired railway employees, he said, runs counter to the principle of providing accessible and inclusive public services.
Mr. Gandhi said many retired employees had approached the office of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) several times over the past month seeking a resolution to issues related to Privilege Passes, but no satisfactory solution had been found. He added that recognised railway trade unions had already submitted representations to the Railway Board and the Union Minister for Railways, urging them to restore the manual application system.
Appealing to the Railway Administration to adopt a more flexible approach, Mr. Gandhi urged it to reinstate physical applications for Privilege Passes while retaining the online mode for those who prefer to use it. He also appealed to South Coast Railway General Manager Sandeep Kumar to intervene and ensure that retired railway employees across the zone can access their travel passes without unnecessary hardship.