The rules for appointment of an assistant in each AC coach of trains are being ignored by the zonal railways. Due to the non-availability of coach assistants during the journey, railway passengers are facing all sorts of problems.
In the absence of a coach assistant on a train, the safety of passengers is compromised. The coach assistants are supposed to be trained in using fire extinguishers in case of a fire on board.
Sources said that the Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express (train number 19409-10) of Western Railway has a total of seven AC-2 and AC-3 coaches. Normally, there should be seven assistant coaches on the train. But often not a single coach assistant is deployed on the train.
Similarly, on Ahmedabad-Baraini Avadh Express (Train No. 19039-40), Gorakhpur-Mailani (Train No. 15009-10), etc., one or two coach assistants in seven to ten AC coaches are one duty.
Experts say the coach assistant not only gives bed rolls (blanket, sheet, pillow, etc.) to the passengers but also extinguishes fire with the help of a fire extinguisher in case of fire. It is the job of the coach assistant to close the door after the train starts from its station, prevents beggars from entering the coach, prevents illegal passengers from entering the coach, etc.
Due to the non-availability of coach assistants, many railway passengers are facing a lot of problems. This is evident from the 3,000 complaints registered daily with the Indian Railways. A large number of these complaints are related to passenger facilities in the coach.
As per Railway Board’s 2017 rule, the posts of Coach Assistant, Coach Assistant to distribute Bed Roll and Safai Karamcharis (On Board House Keeping Staff-OBHS) have been merged. Under this, one employee will be appointed on each coach by outsourcing. While checking the electric panel in the coach, adjusting the temperature of the AC in the coach, mobile charger, switch, and fixing mechanical-electrical problems in the coach is the work of the coach assistant. But in the new rule, the assistant cleaning the toilet is distributing bed roads.