Hyderabad: Our Association represents about 25 Contractors & Owners of Mechanised BOOT Laundries providing bedroll linen services across the network of Indian Railways which are set-up under PPP mode (Build Own Operate & Transfer), including 5 nos. in South Central Railway (Kachiguda, Tirupati, Kakinada, Vijayawada & Nanded) under 10 to 15 years of Contract duration. These Laundries are highly capital intensive, and have been set-up with huge capital costs, and the machinery and assets have to be maintained even during non-operational times.
Due to Covid-19 lockdown, linen/bedroll services on trains have been suspended indefinitely since 21st March 2020. Railways have resumed partial train services from 11’h May 2020 and further about 230 passenger trains are running from 1″ of June without any bedroll/linen provided to passengers in AC compartments.
As per our Contract Agreement, Railways have to make payment for Minimum Assured load irrespective of linen/bedroll given as these projects are of PPP nature and require capital & debt servicing and maintenance. It’s been more than 5 months that the laundry units have been shut. Due to our representation to Minister of Railways & Chairman Railway Board, Railway Board issued instructions on 3’d July 2020 to make payments as per contract conditions to the BOOT Laundw Contractors as per Minimum Assured Load contract condition in Contract Agreement.
In spite of various representations General Manager, SCR, Chief Mechanical Engineer, SCR and various SCR Divisions to release payments as per contract condition and Railway Board instructions, no payments were released by SCR. Not only has SCR turned a deaf ear to abide by
this contractual obligation, but not even paid a single rupee towards payment to labour & manpower during the period of lockdown from 22’d March till 31 st May 2020 as mandated by
Prime Minister & Government of India’s assurance. Almost 1000 employees, workers & vendors working just in South Central Railway zone are severely affected and under great hardship as there are no salaries paid for the last 5 months.
Since we have run out of all avenues of representations, pleas & requests, to highlight and create awareness of our plight; we are holding a peaceful protest in front of Rail NilaYam on 1″ September 2020 from 9 am to 11 am with not more than 20 people consisting of affected Contractors and employees so that our plight is highlighted, and we and our employees get some immediate relief from South Central Railway.
We undertake that we shall adhere to Covid-19 norms in place by wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing during the said peaceful protest.
We kindly request you to please cover this peaceful protest to highlight our plight and that of our employees who have been rendered iobless with no salaries for the last 5 months and continued uncertainty going forward.
