Railwaymen's black badge protest against Debroy report

NEW DELHI: Several members of All-India Railwaymen's Federation ( AIRF), across the country today wore black badges in protest against the recommendations of the Bibek Debroy Committee.

Debroy Committee report is a clear roadmap for privatisation of Indian Railways and we are opposing it, AIRF General Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra here said, after a day-long protest.

Debroy panel was constituted to suggest restructuring of railways.

The report advocated allowing private players in passenger and freight operations. It also suggested replacement of regular workers by contract labour for day-to-day operations and maintenance of trains.

Mishra said the report favours corporate houses to run train services which means giving the public transporter at the hands of private players.

"We have organised the ' Jan Jagran Abhiyan' from June 23 to June 29 to highlight the darker side of the report all over the country. We will launch indefinite strike as our next course of action to oppose the report," he said.

Meanwhile, railways have made the Debroy report available online for the public.