TTEs to double up as Covid volunteers

Nagpur: After asking the train ticket examiners (TTEs) for working in special squads aboard crowded trains and later doing a U-turn, the South East Central Railway (SECR) has now asked their TTEs to double up at the vaccination centre set up by the NMC on Kamptee Road.
Due to their nature of work, many TTEs and their family members are turning positive. On April 15, the SECR commercial department had chalked out a special ticket checking program aboard overcrowding trains. However, it was withdrawn later amid criticism.
Now, the TTEs have been deputed at the ongoing vaccination drive at Mangal Mandap on Kamptee road. From Tuesday, two TTEs have been asked to report to the assistant divisional medical officer (ADMOs) to assist them at the centre.
Some of the TTEs who have been asked to report to the vaccination centre are also doing their routine checking duties. Being frontline staff, TTEs are becoming more vulnerable to Covid-19. Yet, they are being posted at sensitive places. This is despite the DRM office remaining closed as many employees turning Covid positive.
Senior divisional commercial manager (SrDCM) Vikas Kashyap said, “I don’t see any problem in the issue. It is our social responsibility to help the nation and people at the time of crisis.”
However, the ticket checking association members say, “Why only TTEs? We are ready to do our routine duty. What purpose does it solve posting us at vaccination centres where already RPF men are there to manage things? The department somehow wants us to be on move,” they said.