Friday, August 28, 2015

GUIDELINES FOR FILLING UP OF CRs APARs

WITH THE PERMISSION OF MY DEAR FRIEND MR T P BHASKAR WHO IS SUPERANNUATING ON 31ST AUG 2015 I AM PUBLISHING THE GUIDELINES FOR FILLING UP OF CRS/APARS

POINTS FOR FILLING UP OF APAR OF EMPLOYEES

S.No.
Item
Probable  Answers
2a
Integrity
Beyond doubt/trustworthy/Honest
Doubtful
2b
Tact & Temper
Tactful/Seasoned/Cool/Polite/Cultured/Courteous
Abnormal/violent
2c
Conduct
Conducts himself in a good manner/well behaved/behaves properly
Lazy
2d
Attendance
Regular/Punctual
Erratic/irregular
2e
Physical fitness
Physically fit for strenuous work
Not fit for strenuous work/Scared of heights /cannot work continuously
3a
Initiative & direction
Keeps in order/initiates without direction/initiates with direction only/forefront initiative/positive, guides and directs well/
No initiative/destructive nature.
3b
General intelligence
Has good reasoning power/Has good wisdom/Has initiation/Has understanding/Sufficient/Has good observation power
Lacks common sense.
3c
Keenness, promptness and efficiency
Very sharp, prompt and tactful/is productive and expedient in handling situations/Possesses adaptability skills and remunerative
Slothful and inefficient/Procrastinates
3d
Power to control others
Has focus to control/Has energy to control/Has strength to control
Very violent and obsessed behaviour
3e
Organising/Supervising ability
Systematic execution of Job/Works methodically/Gives guidance and directs well/Takes the right decision/practices orderly working
Hides in another mans shadows/Scared to organise
3f
Capacity for hard work
Is capable/Is proficient/Is competent to do hard work
Lazy and avoids work
3g
Amenable to discipline
Well disciplined/Maintains decorum/maintains good behavior/Amenable to discipline/is accountable for maintaining discipline.
Totally undisciplined/spoils working atmosphere
3h
Safety consciousness
Cautious/Behaves responsibly in adhering to safety precautions/is accountable/is answerable
Poor knowledge of working rules.
3i
Qualities of leadership
Possesses planning skills/Possesses organizing skills/Possesses leadership qualities/Good decision making skills/Possesses controlling skills
Cant specify and skill of planning organizing controlling and decision making.
3j
Raj Bhasha


4
Special aptitude or qualification
Highly devoted/Exhibits proficiency/Exhibits involvement/Possesses field knowledge/Accomplishes target specified/Possesses excellent knowledge
No common sense/No technical skills /No concentration on work
5
Physical disability for outdoor work
Can work in any area/Fit for strenuous work/Can work even at higher level above
Cannot work outside. Has fear of heights/ Not fit for strenuous work.
6

Reliability
Very reliable/Can be depended upon/ Doubtless/ Undesirable/Irrefutable
Unreliable/every move needs to be watched and corrected.
7a
Relation those above
Courteous/Polite/Amicable/Cordial/Obedient
Threatening behaviour
7b
Relation those below
Tactful/Friendly/Cooperative
Obsessed behaviour
7c
Relation with public
                        --                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
            --
8
Power of drafting
Impressive/possesses ample drafting skills/Sufficient to his level/More than required.
No Skill of preparing any drafting/Senseless writing
9
Knowledge of rules
Possesses knowledge of rules, regulations and procedures/possesses sufficient knowledge
Poor knowledge of rules.
10
Inspectors
                   ---
   ---
11
Stenos
                  ---
  ---
12
Drawing Office Staff
                  ---
 ----
13
Ministerial Staff
Yes/No

14
Technical Abilities
Expertise in producing the targets within the frame time/was incharge of Project and saved so much money
No technical knowledge/ No basic technical skill
15
Work Satisfactory
Yes-Satisfactory





S.No.
Item
Probable  Answers
2a
Integrity
Beyond doubt/trustworthy/Honest
Doubtful
2b
Tact & Temper
Tactful/Seasoned/Cool/Polite/Cultured/Courteous
Abnormal/violent
2c
Conduct
Conducts himself in a good manner/well behaved/behaves properly
Lazy
2d
Attendance
Regular/Punctual
Erratic/irregular
2e
Physical fitness
Physically fit for strenuous work
Not fit for strenuous work/Scared of heights /cannot work continuously
3a
Initiative & direction
Keeps in order/initiates without direction/initiates with direction only/forefront initiative/positive, guides and directs well/
No initiative/destructive nature.
3b
General intelligence
Has good reasoning power/Has good wisdom/Has initiation/Has understanding/Sufficient/Has good observation power
Lacks common sense.
3c
Keenness, promptness and efficiency
Very sharp, prompt and tactful/is productive and expedient in handling situations/Possesses adaptability skills and remunerative
Slothful and inefficient/Procrastinates
3d
Power to control others
Has focus to control/Has energy to control/Has strength to control
Very violent and obsessed behavior
3e
Organising/Supervising ability
Systematic execution of Job/Works methodically/Gives guidance and directs well/Takes the right decision/practices orderly working
Hides in another mans shadows/Scared to organize
3f
Capacity for hard work
Is capable/Is proficient/Is competent to do hard work
Lazy and avoids work
3g
Amenable to discipline
Well disciplined/Maintains decorum/maintains good behavior/Amenable to discipline/is accountable for maintaining discipline.
Totally undisciplined/spoils working atmosphere
3h
Safety consciousness
Cautious/Behaves responsibly in adhering to safety precautions/is accountable/is answerable
Poor knowledge of working rules.
3i
Qualities of leadership
Possesses planning skills/Possesses organizing skills/Possesses leadership qualities/Good decision making skills/Possesses controlling skills

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

STATION AS PROFIT CENTER

1. Sale of Platform Tickets – Differential Pricing:
At present, the PF tickets are issued to the public at the rate of Rs.5/- to facilitate them to enter into the station premises and to see of their friends and relatives who board / alight from the trains. This charge is uniform to all categories of stations, all over Indian Railways. By merely purchasing the PF Ticket for Rs.5/-, the public is able to relish and enjoy the various facilities available inside the Railway Premises, causing lot of inconvenience to other genuine passengers. This also leads to more congestion at stations as well as increased maintenance and cleaning work load for the Railways.
It is, therefore, now suggested that the Railways should price the PF Ticket Rates differently, depending upon the value-added service available at the stations. It is also suggested that it would be better for the Railways that if the public are buying the PF Ticket to see of their friends and relatives, the ticket issuing software should have a facility to print the Train Number in the PF ticket itself. This will help the Railways to evacuate such persons from the station premises, as soon as the Train Departs.
Further, the Platform Permit Tickets should be of two types, viz. (1) to issue to those persons who visits the Station to see of their friends / relatives; and (2) to issue to those persons who wants to utilize the various services provided at the Stations.  These types of PF Entry Tickets have to be issued for a limited time period, depending upon the purpose for which it is issued. The second category of Platform Permit Tickets should be priced at a higher premium in the form of ‘value-added’ services by the Railways. As and when the Train departs from the Terminal or stopping stations, the exit points should be checked through automated systems, whereby the validity of the PF Tickets, available with the passengers are verified.
2. Provision of various concessions to the Passengers:
As far as passenger traffic is concerned, several types of concessions are extended by the Railways to different category of persons – say, people from down-trodden to highest echelons of society.  Any concessions given to the passengers should be adequately compensated by the respective State / Central Ministries, including the various concessions for students. the passenger wishes to travel in Mail / Express Trains, for want of sufficient suburban / passenger trains, he should be allowed to travel in Mail / Express Trains on payment of additional premium charges. The provision of concessions on Season Tickets should be provided to passengers who travel in II Class only and NOT for First Class.
3.Face-lift of Station Entrance:
In stations covering business areas, temples or educational institutions or IT Sector Companies, the architectural design to the front elevation of the stations shall be provided by the sponsor companies or the respective Devastanam Boards / Temple authorities / Educational Institutions. The same face-lifting of stations can also be extended to other Corporate Companies as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
4.Provision of ATM facilities at the stations:
At present, the license fee for the ATM locations are charged at a uniform rate irrespective of the vantage position, in which the same was located in a station, without considering the utility index. Further, the existence of the ATM of a particular bank not only serves as a means of advertisement for the bank but also as an automated unit attracting more customers, thereby enabling improving their business as well as reduction in staff cost.  In order to generate more revenue to the Railways, the IR should adopt differential pricing policy, while fixing the license fee for the ATM of the Banks, based on the location in which it is being permitted.
5.Model of Revenue Estimation and Generation by Thiruvananthapuram Mono Rail:
From the detailed project report of the Thiruvananthapuram Mono Rail Project, it is seen that the Revenues that is estimated to be generated, after the commission of the project, has been arrived at in the project report based on the percentage of trip distribution for each distance slab (to the entire length of the Mono Rail Project).
6.   Earnings through Commercial Publicity:
(i)         At present, the contracts are awarded by the Divisions to various Advertising Agents for display of the Advertisements / Hoardings at station premises, duly collecting the License Fee fixed. The collection of such Licence Fee are ensured by the Divisions only through payment at major stations (i.e. like MAS or MS) even though the actual display of advertisements / hoardings are at other authorized stations.
(ii)        To make a station as a Profit Centre, it would be necessary that the earnings generated through Commercial Publicity should be directly allocated to such stations to decide whether the station is profitable one.
(iii)       Similarly, other suggestions which can add to earnings maximization on account of value additional services provided by Railways are given below.
7. Fare structure for special trains
Special services justify payment of premium rates. Being a value added service a separate surcharge may become necessary along with the normal fare to facilitate revenue enhancement. This surcharge may be varied for different distance groups and classes. Demand exists to additionally charge another 100% of the extant fares, including Tatkal charges. The special fare dispensation can be applied to all festival and seasonal specials. This might require strengthening of the dynamic tariff policy, after systematic study of the market potential. Ideally, the fare rise aimed can be up to 200% in special cases of demand.
8. Distance restriction
To discourage short distance travelers and possible loss of revenue, Railways have to place suitable distance restrictions to ensure accommodation for the more needy passengers heading for distant destinations. This will also improve IR earnings.
9. Value addition in services
The value addition concept could be strengthened by adherence to punctuality and enhancement of passenger comfort levels. For example, provision of catering services including serving dinner by IRCTC may be got extended to specials. Issue of linen could also be entrusted to quality conscious contractors so as to make journey in specials more pleasant. 
10. Marketing arrangements
Dates of specials and timings shall be in place well in advance. One reason for low occupancy of special trains is the late announcement of specials. Publication of a separate Time tables for special trains could be considered for summer, winter and also for festive seasons to enable planning of the journey in advance.
11. Special trains for specific groups
As of now, some Railway specials are being run for specific groups of passengers. As passengers outside the group are not allotted accommodation in those trains, the chargeable fare shall be in accordance with the special tariff rules prescribed for special trains carrying specific groups.
12. Concession tickets and Tatkal Quota
Special Tariff dispensation for special trains may have to provide for exclusion of concession travel in such trains. The provision of tatkal quota may also have to be fixed as high as possible depending upon passenger demand.
13. Terminal costs
Fare for Specials which start and terminate at intermediate stations shall include the cost of empty run from and to the train formation station which has terminal facilities for maintenance. Therefore, the chargeable distance for those trains shall be from the Train formation station.
As running of special trains are over and above the normal services, a part of the earnings as well as centralized costs on specials shall be added to the suggested earnings / cost profile of the subject cost centre stations. As the additional cost / earnings are to be shared by several stations en-route, a suitable factor formula based on additional man hours spent and materials consumed shall be put in place. The additional earnings thus computed have to be reckoned while comparing the earnings with costs.
14. Reduction in Railways’ cost through PPP Model:
Economic growth in recent years has enhanced the relevance of railways as a critical element in global competitiveness of the Indian economy. In particular, this sector has witnessed significant interest from both domestic as well as foreign investors following the policy initiatives taken by the Government to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) For building and operating world-class railway stations through PPP, a precise policy and regulatory framework has to be spelt out by the Railway Management.
15. Concept of adoption of Value Engineering[1] in Railways
For example, to give more value to the station platforms, the Railways have decided to provide Granite Floors in some of the proposed world class railway stations.  Though this will surely create a very good image of the Railways, amongst the general public, it would be better for the Railways to think differently in terms of Value Engineering, and to explore the possibilities providing the same level of value to the Station Platforms through other simpler methods of beautification of Platforms, which will help the Railways to reduce its investment costs.
16. Utilize main line Plat Forms for commercial activities:
      These platforms, instead, can be profitably used by commercially renting out the space for setting up of stalls. The shifted offices may be located either on the upstairs or on island platforms if any located nearby. Even the idea can be extended for setting up of high value sales stores like jeweler shops, silk emporiums etc especially in cultural and pilgrim centers.
17. Revamping parking facility:
The parking facilities can be provided in the complex itself in one of the floors. Even the cost of building the malls/complexes can be done on BOLT/BOT/PPP models to avoid immediate capital expenditure on the part of railways.
18. While renting out space for commercial activities in railway stations, the following may merit consideration.
(a)        Centrally located issue of tokens for availing of services/purchase of refreshments etc,
(b)        In places where shop-keepers have been allowed individual building, the details of sales may be networked so as to facilitate railways to have an idea of actual sales.
19. Centralized billing in station stalls:
it is suggested that it would be better for the Indian Railways if the charging of license fees is done as a percentage of the profit by each licensee by de-linking the calculation of license fee with reference to space provided. 
To achieve this, each licensee should be asked to generate a bill for the services provided from their computer and all such computers should be linked to the main server with Railway so that the Railways can collect from the contractors / license-holders a share on profit (or) as a percentage on the sales turnover. Alternatively, even in the existing method of fixing of license fee based on the Annual Sales Turnover, if the billing computers of the Contractors / License-holders are linked with the Railways Computers, the Railways can revise the Annual License Fee automatically, as and when there is increased sales. 
20. Reorient license fee:
Depending upon the place of business or the popular demand, the Railways can adopt fixing of license fee either as a certain percentage of market value of the space so allotted with escalation factor for each year, or as a percentage of sales turnover or with combination of both principles
The above is only a tip of the iceberg.  The Indian Railways should make concerted efforts to effectively utilize the available land spaces.  The Railways should also ensure that various assets created involving huge financial resources are put into use in time so that the huge investment cost is recouped by the Railways at the earliest.
21. Involvement of Local Bodies / Municipalities etc. in the Creation / Development of Railway Stations:
In this case, a very good example that can be cited is Velankanni extension line from Nagapattinam. Here, the Basilica of the Lady of Health, situated at Velankanni offered a part of the capital cost for building a BG line from Nagappattinam to Velankanni a sum of Rs.10 Crores, as a gesture towards joint participation. As a step forward, this model can be extended to other stations, especially, where pilgrim centers are situated. Even the day to day maintenance of the stations can be looked after by the beneficiaries of the stations, making substantial savings in the revenue expenditure.  E.g. the maintenance of Melmaruvathur railway station – a Hindu pilgrim centre receives pilgrims throughout the year- can be sponsored by the temple trust. As a matter of fact, many local organizations might be more than willing to participate in such endeavors, which have to be identified for gainful utilization by Railways.
22. Upkeep and Maintenance of Railway Stations through CSR:
The Railways can profitably make use of this Corporate Funds towards upkeep and beautification of Railway Stations, especially where corporate offices are located.  Specifically, the Railways can develop an interaction model with the corporate paving way for identification of projects and maintenance. E.g. the PARANUR Station of Chennai Division was re-modeled and beautified by Mahindra Satyam (IT Company). Even the entire cost of day-to-day maintenance of station premises is undertaken by the Company.  This had lead to huge reduction in Maintenance Expenses of the Station Premises and other related service buildings for the Railways. Similar arrangement was also made at DIVINE NAGAR Station of Trivandrum Division, which had also lead to huge reduction in the maintenance expenses of the Railways.
The Railways can further interact with the Corporate Officials and explore the feasibility of expanding this concept to other contiguous railway stations.
The concept of identification of Railway Stations for upkeep and maintenance under CSR can be extended to other Zonal Railways which can help to minimize the Railways maintenance cost.
            Proper planning and approach to ensure maximum possible commercial exploitation of the Railway Lands in and around the station premises would go a long way in augmentation of the ‘sundry’ earnings for the station and thus, the station themselves would become a profitable one
Railways are not showing much interest in the maintenance of proper record relating to non-core activities, such as Advertisement Boards, catering stalls etc.  The deviation from the concept of Responsibility Accounting in respect of Non-core business of the Railways, clearly leads to poor performance of ensuring the complete potential earnings of the Railway Assets.



[1] Historically, the concept of value engineering was evolved in the 1940s at General Electric, in the midst of World War II.  Due to the war, the purchase engineer and others sought substitutes for materials and components, since there was a chronic shortage of them.  These substitutes were often found to reduce the costs and provided equal or better performance.

WITH GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO SHRI H S MUSHATHICK IRAS FA&CAO/ICF/MAS.