NEW DELHI, Dec 9 ? In an attempt to resolve the crisis over railway recruitment, Railway Ministry has convened a meeting of the Informal Consultative Committee on NF Railway here tomorrow to discuss the issue. Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar is slated to chair the meeting that would be attended by North-east MPs. The timing of the unscheduled meeting assumes significance because the Railway Minister is slated to reply on the short duration discussion on the recent violence in Assam and Bihar due to recruitment policy of the Railways this week. The inconclusive discussion that started last week is scheduled to be resumed on Wednesday, with the Railway Minister tipped to make a major policy announcement on the Floor of the House.
The issue is also likely to figure in Rajya Sabha later this week, where several MPs cutting across party-lines have moved a Calling Attention Motion on the recent violence vis-?-vis the recruitment policy of the Railways. According to sources, the Railway Ministry bowing to the pressure may opt for reviewing the recruitment policy. He had indicated as much to a delegation of MPs from the North-east, when he reportedly suggested that they move the Prime Minister to ask the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to review the policy.
Significantly, most of the MPs including those of Bihar who participated in the debate also advocated that the recruitment policy for Grade Four employee including the Group ?C? and ?D? be reviewed in order to avoid similar incidents from happening in other States as well. The Bihar MPs for instance wanted the Railway Minister to bifurcate Katihar Division from NF Railway and join it with Hajipur Zone. Suggestions had also come in that examination centres be set up in Bihar itself to ensure that applicants of the State do not have to move out to sit for examinations. The MPs further suggested that proper protection be given to candidates by the government when they move out to sit for selection test.
The ongoing selection process had to be stopped midway after reports of violence poured in from Assam and Maharashtra. The Railway Recruitment Board, Guwahati stopped the selection on advice of Assam Government. The Minister, meanwhile, has been meeting MPs and political leaders from the region to get a feedback. The former State Minister, Shiv Shambhu Ojha who is with the BJP called on Sri Kumar in this connection.