Lok Sabha MP, Kunwar Danish Ali, questioned the Centre about several cases of deaths of labourers in the Shramik Special trains that have come to their notice during the lockdown, and if any financial assistance has been provided to the families of the deceased workers.
He also asked the Railway Ministry whether the 40 trains that carried labourers, lost its route during the lockdown causing problems to the on-board passengers, as reported in the HW news portal.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal referred to the data provided by the State Police stating that “97 persons have been reported dead while travelling on board Shramik Special Trains during Covid-19 situation/crisis. The State Police registers case under Section 174 of Cr. PC in cases of unnatural deaths and follows further legal process.”
Shockingly, no financial assistance has been provided to the families of the deceased workers, as compensation can only be provided in cases of death or injury due to train accidents under the Railways Act. “Railways are liable for payment of compensation only in case of death or injury of railway passengers in train accidents and untoward incidents as laid down in Section 124 and 124A read with Section 123 of Railways Act, 1989”, read Minister Piyush Goyal’s answer.
Giving more details about the procedure to claim compensation, Goyal said that “Compensation is paid by the Railways only if a decree is passed by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) in favour of the victims or their dependents on the compensation claims application filed by them in a RCT bench.”
The Centre also informed the Lok Sabha that although some trains were diverted due to congestion, no train was lost in the process. His parliamentary response read, “No train ‘lost’ its route and trains reached the exact destinations to which they were planned. Owing to congestion, a few trains were run on diverted alternate routes in a planned manner via alternative non-congested routes. The trains were diverted to facilitate faster transit and create staggered arrival at congested destinations.”
He further said that the Special Shramik trains operated from May 1 to August 31 last year, to enable movement of migrant labourers and stranded passengers in terms of the guidelines issued by the Government. “These were ‘trains on demand’ and in all 4,621 Shramik Express trains were operated between 01.05.2020 to 31.08.2020 carrying 63.19 lakh passengers to their respective States”, stated Piyush Goyal.
According to the Cabinet Minister, Indian Railways provided approximately 1.96 crore meals and 2.19 crore packaged drinking water bottles to passengers of Shramik Special Trains free of cost.
The answer may be read here:
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