Kerala: Loco pilots start hunger stir today

Kozhikode: As many as 1,127 loco pilots in the two railway divisions of Kerala will go on a ‘duty-sans-food’ demonstration as part of the national protest under the banner of All India Loco Running Staff Association. The 36-hour long protest to press for their long-pending demands will commence at 8 am on Tuesday. “It is first such strike. Our demands include implementing the pay commission recommendations, providing sufficient rest hours, improving the pathetic condition of the loco pilot cabin, etc.,” said K.C. James, its joint secretary.

The pay panel has recommended a 14.29 percent hike, and loco pilots have got only 12 percent. Similarly, several commissions had recommended minimum 40 hours resting time for them, but they get only 30 hours. “Drastic shortage in the number of loco pilots are forcing railways to cut short the resting hours and bring us back to duty which is high risk,” he said. "Guards too will join the protest supporting our cause." Palakkad division has 567 loco pilots including seven women. Of this, 285 will be on duty each day running express, mail, passenger and goods trains and on shunting duty, at Palakkad, Shoranur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Mangaluru stations.