- Staging protest over 10 demands.
Bhopal: Railway operations across the country are facing a unique form of protest as approximately 1.2 lakh Loco Pilots and assistant drivers, under the banner of the All India Loco Running Staff Association, are running trains without consuming food. The protest, which began on December 2 and runs until December 4, is aimed at highlighting the severe working conditions faced by the running staff.
= Demands for shorter hours and better facilities
Loco Pilots accuse the railways of forcing them to work continuously for 12 to 16 hours, drastically exceeding the official nine-hour duty limit. Furthermore, many drivers are forced to remain away from their headquarters for up to 72 to 104 hours. Key demands in their 10-point charter include:
Limiting night duty to no more than two consecutive nights.
Ensuring a minimum 46 hours of periodic rest.
Implementing a maximum duty time of 6 hours for Mail/Express trains and 8 hours for Goods trains.
Restoring the old pension scheme (OPS) by abolishing the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
Providing proper toilet/urinal facilities in locomotive cabins.
While the “hunger strike” has reportedly not yet impacted train operations, the association warns of escalated action if the Ministry fails to address their longstanding grievances. The demonstration is active in major Madhya Pradesh crew lobbies, including Bhopal, Itarsi, and Jabalpur.
