New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi started walking with a bag weighing 35 kg on his shoulder and an iron hammer in his hand. Workers wear a reflector jacket and a plastic cap over the banyan they are wearing to travel along the railway tracks. Also accompanied is a team of trackmen, the lowest-ranked basic category in the Indian Railways.

Rahul walked with them and heard in detail the professional problems faced by the trackmen. ‘The trackman brothers who keep the railways moving and safe have no promotion or emotion in this system. Trackmen are the most neglected among the Indian Railway employees. I got a chance to meet them and understand their problems and challenges’ – Rahul wrote on X while sharing the video of the visit.

“A trackman has to walk 8-10 km every day. 35 kg of equipment must be carried. They start work from the track and retire from the track itself. Other employees can take departmental examination and get higher posts. But, the trackmen are not even allowed to participate in such exams’ – pointed out Rahul.

There is no promotion, no emotion in the system for the trackman brothers who keep the railways moving and safe.

Trackmen are the most neglected among the Indian Railways employees and got a chance to meet them and understand their problems and challenges.

Trackman 8-10 km daily by carrying 35 kg tools. pic.twitter.com/OL1Q49CLLN

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 3, 2024

Rahul pointed out that they said that every year around 550 trackmen are killed due to on-the-job accidents. There are no adequate safety arrangements in highly hazardous work. He asked that every trackman should be provided with safety equipment during work to provide timely information about arrival of train on the track. He also demanded that opportunity for promotion through departmental examination (LDCE) should be made available.

The main demands raised by the trackman brothers who are working day and night in adverse conditions and without basic facilities must be implemented at any cost. It is through the hard work of the trackmen that the safe rail journey of crores of citizens is completed – Rahul pointed out in the note written in X.