East Central Railway to hoist tricolours at all stations, houses of 80,000 railway staff | Patna News

The railways has decided to hoist tricolours at all stations under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway (ECR). Selfie points have been created at majors stations, including Patna junction and Rajendra Nagar terminal, to take a selfie with a giant-sized national tricolour in background, which will be hoisted on August 13 under ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ scheme of the Central government.
According to ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Birendra Kumar, national flag would also be hoisted at rooftop of the houses of about 80,000 railway employees, including officials under the five divisions of ECR, from August 13 to 15 to mark celebration of the 75th Independence Day this year. Personnel department of ECR headquarters and its five divisions have been asked to coordinate with each department and distribute national tricolours to the railway employees free of cost. Railways has purchased tricolours from the Staff Benefit Fund (SBF) which is funded every year by the Railways Board for the staff welfare work, he said.
Meanwhile, ECR Karamchari Union (ECRKU) general secretary S N P Srivastava said there is no harm if railway uses SBF to buy tricolours for railway employees and distribute them free of cost. However, the SBF is earmarked for the use in medical emergency, higher education purpose of employees’ meritorious wards, sports and in death cases of employees, he said.
According to sources, Railway Board’s recent circular has authorised the SBF committee in each division of the ECR to use SBF money for purchasing tricolours from GeM portal.