Indian Railway Codes and Manuals-Establishment code- Vol-I-Chapter-8 (VIII)
Chapter 8
Staff Benefit Fund
801. A Railway Staff. Benefit Fund shall be
maintained for each Indian Railway.
802. (1) Education of the staff and of their children
when no assistance is admissible under the provisions laid down in Chapter –
XXII, Section-A (Schooling facilities and educational assistance for children
of Railway Servants) of Indian Railway Establishment Manual Volume-II, provided
that no grant shall be made to a school which is not in accordance with any
general or special order issued by the President in this behalf .
(2) If
the Committee desire to incur expenditure on any other object which in their
opinion is for the benefit of the staff, they shall refer the matter to the
General Manager whose decision shall be final.
803. No part of the fund shall be used for the
benefit of any gazetted railway servant, except as provided in Rule 805(1).
(Authority: Board’s
letter No. E(W)97/FU-1/4 dated 13-10-99)
Note.--A scholarship for study granted to the
child/ward of a non-gazetted railway servant will not be withdrawn merely
because the railway servant is subsequently promoted to officiate in a gazetted
post, provided the student remains otherwise eligible fur the same. When,
however, the railway servant is confirmed in the gazetted post. the scholarship
should merely be discontinued and no recovery should be made in respect of the
period from the date of confirmation to the date of issue of the Notification
of confirmation.
804. Credits to the Fund.-To the fund shall be credited:.-
(1) all receipts from
fines; and
(2) all receipts from
forfeited Provident Fund bonuses. except forfeited bonuses of gazetted railway
servants.
805. In addition to the credits to the Fund detailed in Rule 804,
there shall be credited to the fund on
the 1st April of each financial year an annual grant from the
revenues of the Railway at a per capita rate of 
800/- based
on the sanctioned strength of non-gazetted Railway employees, permanent and
temporary, as on the 31st March, posts charged to capital being
excluded. The Fund shall be credited provisionally on the 1st April
each year with an amount equal to the
contribution for the previous year, the necessary adjustment being made as soon
as the correct amount of the contribution has been determined. The
distribution of 800/- among
different activities will be as under:
|
S. No. |
Head/activity |
Allocation (in
Rs. ) |
Scope |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
1. |
Education- Scholarship for Higher Technical/
Professional education for wards of non-gazetted Railway Servants in
Grade Pay (above) |
116 |
For wards of Railway Servants in Grade Pay above (Authority: Board’s letter No.E(W)2014/FU-1/1 dated
18.01.2017, ACS No.130) |
|
2. |
Scholarship for Higher Technical/Professional
education of Girl children of Railway Servants in Grade Pay up to |
110 |
Scholarship for pursuing Technical/Professional
diploma/degree for girl children of Railway Servants in Grade Pay up to |
|
3. |
Scholarship for Higher Technical/Professional education
of Male children of Railway Servants in Grade Pay up to |
100 |
Scholarship for pursuing Technical Professional
diploma/degree for male children of Railway Servants in Grade Pay
up to |
|
4. |
Women empowerment activities including
seminar, camps, training programmes and gender sensitization
camps etc. |
28 |
Giving support to creches, arrangements for safety
of women Railway Servants & other initiatives taken by Railways. |
|
5. |
Recreation other than sports |
25 |
Recreational facilities, purchase of gym equipments,
employees' /wards' holiday camps, study tours. |
|
6. |
Recreational facilities at Institutes
and Clubs etc. |
36 |
|
|
7. |
Promotion of Cultural Activities |
16 |
Organizing cultural programmes in residential
colonies, Divisions and schools and purchase/ maintenance of instruments etc. |
|
8. |
Relief of distress, sickness, etc for all non-gazetted Railway employees. Railway Board letter No E(W)/2023/SBF/7
dated 06.01.2024 (ACS No 147) |
110 |
To grant higher amount of relief to Railway Servants
in need such as immediate financial assistance to Railway Servants in
accidents and for Railway Servants who are long sick and hospitalized for a
long period and are on leave without pay: no leave (LAP or LHAP)
is in his credit. Funeral charges for death of Railway Servants be
given at Rs. 10,000/- in each case. |
|
9. |
Sports activities |
30 |
Encouraging sports by giving
latest sports equipment and imparting training
at schools, institutes and clubs. |
|
10. |
Scouts & Guides activities |
22 |
Augmentation of training facility all over Railways. |
|
11. |
Indigenous system of medicine including Homoeopathy |
36 |
|
|
12. |
Immediate relief in times of crisis arising out of
floods , famines, landslides, fire or any other calamity |
24 |
. |
|
13. |
Developing occupational skills for disabled Railway
Servants(Divyangjan) i.e. those covered under ‘Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016’ and their wards, including purchase of wheel chairs,
other aids, special software etc. and organizing workshops,
seminars, camps etc. |
50 |
Assistance to Railway Servants with disabilities/
wards in need of special equipments etc |
|
14. |
Miscellaneous |
80 |
Support for improvement in holiday homes, rest
houses, entertainment/ information facility viz TV; electrical
appliances/maintenance fund for recurring expenses on such facilities, |
|
15. |
Promotion of mental health and well being of
employees |
17 |
Adequate counselling and alternate modes of reducing
stress levels through meditation, yoga ,life style changes etc. |
|
|
Total |
800 |
|
Note:-
(1) Allocation
provided against Head/Activity at S. No.(1)(2) and (3) of Rule 805 will also be
utilized for financing the scheme of Cash award for wards of Railway Servants
for outstanding contribution in Academics & Sports as stipulated vide Annexure-I
to Board’s letter No. E(W)2014/FU-1/1 dated 01.06.2015 - RBE No.54/2015).
(Authority:
Railway Board’s letter No. E(W)2010/FU-1/4 dated 12.10.2015 - ACS No.127)
(2) The
SBF Committees on Railways have been empowered for inclusion of degree courses
in the already approved courses for the purpose of grant of scholarship in
terms of the conditions/priorities laid down vide Railway Board’s letter No.
E(W)85/FU-1/4, dated 19.11.1985 and other instructions issued from time to time
and subject to recognition of the course by the recognised University/State
Governments.
(Authority:
Railway Board’s letter No.E(W)2008/FU-1/5 dated 05.11.2008).
(3)
Interest at 2 percent per annum shall be credited on the balance at the credit
of the Fund lying with the Government and will be taken in reduction of the
annual contribution from the revenues of the Railway.
Authority:-
Railway Board letter No E(W)2022/SBF/5 (ACS No 143)
806. Expenditure from the fund. --
Subject to the general supervision of the General Manager, all expenditure from
the Staff Benefit Fund shall be authorised by the Committee or by a
Sub-Committee duly appointed under the provisions of Rules 808.
Railway Ministry's decision. - The cost of stationery, printing charges of
forms, postage charge and other contingent expenses relating to the Fund should
be met from the Railway Revenues. Expenditure on entertainment during the
meetings, of the Staff Benefit Fund Committee should be met from
the fund itself.
(Railway Ministry's
letter No. E(W)59FU-1-12 dt. 10-5-1960 & No. E(W) 60FU 1-3, dt. 12-2-1960).
807. Management of the Fund. -The
fund shall be managed by a Committee at the headquarters of the Railway
presided over by the Chief Personnel Officer. Besides Chairman the Committee
shall consist of the following:-
(i) The
Chief Personnel
Officer;
(ii) The
Chief Medical Officer;
(iii)
The Additional Chief Engineer;
(iv)
A Welfare Officer to be nominated by the General Manager who shall act as
the Secretary of the Committee ; and
(v)
Six members shall be from recognised unions, to be equally divided amongst the
recognised unions.
(vi) One
representative each from All India Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes
Railway Employees Association (AISC&STREA) and All India OBC Railway
Employees Association (AIOBCREA). (Authority: Board’ s letter
No.E(W)2012/FU-1/6 dated 27-05-2014) –ACS No.122
Note. .-In the production units where staff councils
are functioning members elected by the Central Staff Councils will be
represented on the Staff Benefit Fund Committee.
(Authority : Board’s letter No. E(W)97/FU-1/4 , dated 13-10-99)
808. (1) There shall be a Divisional Staff
Benefit Fund Committee on each Division, which shall be presided over by
the Divisional Personnel Officer.
Besides the Chairman,
the Committee shall consist of the following:-
(i) One
officer to be nominated by the Divisional Railway Manager ;
(ii) Two
representatives from each recognised union; and
(iii) A Welfare
Inspector nominated by the Divisional Manager who shall act as
Secretary.
(iv)One representative
each from All India Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Railway Employees
Association (AISC&STREA) and All India OBC Railway Employees Association
(AIOBCREA). (Authority: Board’ s letter No.E(W)2012/FU-1/6 dated
27-05-2014) –ACS No.122
(2) Each workshop will
also have a Workshop Staff Benefit Fund Committee, the constitution of this Committee
being the same as that prescribed above for the Division. If there is no Senior
Scale Personnel Officer in a workshop, his place shall be taken by the Works
Manager, or if there is no Works Manager, by the Assistant Works Manager.
In the event of disagreement
with the decision of the Division/Workshop Sub- Committee, the matter shall be
referred to the Divisional Railway Manager/Deputy Chief Mechanical
Engineer-in-charge of the workshop, as the case may be, whose decision in the
matter shall be final.
The Divisional/Workshop
Staff Benefit Fund Committees shall have powers to allot funds for the objects
specified in these rules within the rules and limitations prescribed by the
Headquarters Committee.
Railway Ministry's
decision 1.-No retired employee,
or an outsider shall be nominated by the Recognised Unions to serve on the
Staff Benefit Fund Committee.
(Railway Ministry's
letter No. E(W)68FU1-5, dt, 30-4-1968).
Railway Ministry's
decision 2.-Railway employees
under suspension shall not be allowed to participate in the meetings of the
Staff' Benefit Fund Committee. There is no objection to substitutes taking
their place for the period the sitting members remain disqualified.
(Railway Ministry's
letter No. E(W)60NM1-31, dt. 1-11-1960.)
Railway Ministry’s decision 3
:-
There is no objection to substitute taking the place of nominated member in
Committee meetings/camps of SBF provided the reasons therefore and alternative
arrangement is duly informed in advance by the concerned Association i.e.
AISCSTREA & AIOBCREA.
(Authority :
Board’s letter No. E(W)2019/FU-1/12 dated 05.08.2020 RBE No.57/2020)
809. A member of the Committee or Sub-Committee
shall hold office for one year unless he is removed by the General Manager or
resigns but shall be eligible for renomination or re-election.
810. If the Chairman disagrees with a majority
of the Committee as regards-
(1) Financial
propriety of an expenditure from the Fund.
(2) Whether the
grant comes within the objects mentioned in rule 802.
(3) Whether it
conflicts with the, recognised policy of the Government or the Railway, he
shall refer the matter to the General Manager whose decision in the matter
shall be final.
811. Accounts of the Fund.-- The General Manager shall make such
arrangements as may be necessary for keeping the accounts of the fund; and
audit shall be carried out in such manner as the President may direct.
812. Annual report on the working of the Fund. -The General Manager shall submit annually a
report to the Railway Board on the working of the fund during the previous
financial year.
* * *
Multiple choice questions:
1. What is the primary purpose of
the Railway Staff Benefit Fund?
a) To assist retired railway employees.
b) To manage the education of staff
and their children.
c) To provide benefits exclusively
to gazetted railway servants.
d) To support welfare activities for
non-gazetted railway staff.
Answer: d) To support welfare activities for non-gazetted railway
staff.
2. Which of the following can be
funded by the Railway Staff Benefit Fund for the children of non-gazetted
railway servants?
a) Assistance for private schooling.
b) Scholarships for study, even if
the railway servant is later promoted to a gazetted post.
c) Educational assistance for
children of gazetted officers.
d) Travel expenses for education
abroad.
Answer: b) Scholarships for study, even if the railway servant is
later promoted to a gazetted post.
3. Under what condition will a
scholarship be discontinued for a child of a railway servant?
a) When the child reaches the age of
18.
b) When the railway servant retires.
c) When the railway servant is
confirmed in a gazetted post.
d) When the railway servant is
transferred to another division.
Answer: c) When the railway servant is confirmed in a gazetted
post.
4. What is the source of credits to
the Railway Staff Benefit Fund?
a) Interest earned from investments
in the stock market.
b) Donations from the public.
c) Fines collected and forfeited
Provident Fund bonuses.
d) Grants from international railway
organizations.
Answer: c) Fines collected and forfeited Provident Fund bonuses.
5. What is the per capita rate of
the annual grant from the Railway’s revenue to the Staff Benefit Fund?
a) ₹500
b) ₹1000
c) ₹800
d) ₹1200
Answer: c) ₹800
6. What should be done with the
amount provisionally credited to the Staff Benefit Fund on the 1st April each
year?
a) It should be invested in
government bonds.
b) It should be adjusted once the
correct contribution amount is determined.
c) It should be distributed
immediately among the staff.
d) It should be used to fund annual
staff events.
Answer: b) It should be adjusted once the correct contribution
amount is determined.
7. Which activity is allowed to be
financed using the allocation provided under Rule 805?
a) Social events for gazetted
officers.
b) Cash awards for wards of Railway
Servants for outstanding contributions in Academics & Sports.
c) Medical treatment for retired
railway employees.
d) Legal fees for railway servants
in official disputes.
Answer: b) Cash awards for wards of Railway Servants for
outstanding contributions in Academics & Sports.
8. Who is responsible for the
management of the Railway Staff Benefit Fund at the headquarters level?
a) The General Manager.
b) The Chief Medical Officer.
c) The Chief Personnel Officer.
d) The Railway Ministry.
Answer: c) The Chief Personnel Officer.
9. How many members from recognized
unions are part of the Staff Benefit Fund Committee at the headquarters?
a) Four members equally divided
among the unions.
b) Six members equally divided among
the unions.
c) Two members from each union.
d) One member from each union.
Answer: b) Six members equally divided among the unions.
10. What is the role of the
Divisional Staff Benefit Fund Committee?
a) To manage funds exclusively for
gazetted officers.
b) To oversee the distribution of
the Staff Benefit Fund at the divisional level.
c) To conduct audits of the Staff Benefit
Fund.
d) To arrange entertainment events
for railway staff.
Answer: b) To oversee the distribution of the Staff Benefit Fund at
the divisional level.
11. Who presides over the Divisional
Staff Benefit Fund Committee?
a) The Divisional Railway Manager.
b) The Chief Medical Officer.
c) The Divisional Personnel Officer.
d) The Welfare Officer.
Answer: c) The Divisional Personnel Officer.
12. What action is required if there
is a disagreement with the decision of the Division/Workshop Sub-Committee?
a) Refer the matter to the
Divisional Railway Manager/Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer-in-charge.
b) Refer the matter to the Railway
Board.
c) Refer the matter to the Chief
Personnel Officer.
d) Refer the matter to the Union
Public Service Commission.
Answer: a) Refer the matter to the Divisional Railway
Manager/Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer-in-charge.
13. What is the tenure of a member
of the Committee or Sub-Committee?
a) Two years.
b) Six months.
c) One year.
d) Three years.
Answer: c) One year.
14. Who makes the final decision if
the Chairman of the Committee disagrees with the majority regarding the
financial propriety of an expenditure?
a) The Chief Personnel Officer.
b) The Divisional Railway Manager.
c) The General Manager.
d) The Railway Ministry.
Answer: c) The General Manager.
15. Who is responsible for auditing
the accounts of the Railway Staff Benefit Fund?
a) The Divisional Personnel Officer.
b) The Chief Auditor.
c) The President.
d) The Railway Board.
Answer: c) The President.
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