The locals of Assam as well as other parts of Northeast India being deprived of jobs at the NFR (Northeast Frontier Railway) is not something new. Candidates from other state secure a job at the NFR and subsequently procure transfers to their home states. As a result, many employees of the region have been forced to work 24×7.

The northeast unit of All India SC & ST Railway Employees Association, in a press meet, informed that as many as 15,468 posts are presenty lying vacant at the NFR. Of these, 9,000 posts are in the reserved category, the association informed. President B Boro and Secreatary TC Das alleged a faulty recruitment followed by the authorities to be the reason behind the vacant posts.

The association also informed that they will soon approach the Gauhati High Court in relation to the matter.

It may be mentioned here that since independence, Grade III and Grade IV posts at the NFR were reserved for candidates of the region. However, since 2005, these posts were made open to all. On February 10 this year, another announcement was made that the recruitment process of these posts shall be conducted centrally.

Though many organisations have been demanding for reservation for local candidates, the Railway Department has turned their backs to such demands.

The association has also alleged that Narendra Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' does not have a place in the Railway Department.

(Photo courtesy: Mrinmoy Buragohain)