Lok Sabha Question No. 621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-20
Subject: Rail Victim Compensation Fund
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUKENDER REDDY GUTHA, SANGANNA AMARAPPA KARADI, ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 621 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2016

## RAIL VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND

621.     SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY: SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA: SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal of creating Rail  Victim  Compensation  Fund  to  provide  compensation  to  the persons suffered under rail accidents;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the further action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the details of guidelines regarding payment of compensation to the rail accident victims; and
- (e)    the details of accidents that took place during the last two years and the current year due to poor maintenance of railway lines and the action taken by the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

( SHRI MANOJ SINHA )

- (a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 621 BY SHRI GUTHA SUKENDER REDDY, SHRI  SANGANNA  AMARAPPA  AND  SHRI  ABHISHEK  SINGH  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.07.2016 REGARDING RAIL VICTIM COMPENSATION FUND

(a)  to  (c)  :  Yes  Madam.  A  representation  has  recently  been  received from  an  Hon'ble  Member  of  Parliament  proposing  creation  of  Rail Victim  Compensation  Fund  to  provide  adequate  compensation  to victims of rail accidents by levy of an additional charge on passenger fare. The proposal contained in the representation is under examination in this Ministry.

(d) : In terms of Section 125 of the Railways Act, 1989, and Section 16 of the Railway  Claims  Tribunal Act, 1987, the  claimant of the compensation  for  death/injury  in  Train  Accident  /  Untoward  Incident has  to  move  an  application  for  compensation  in  the  Railway  Claims Tribunal.  The compensation is paid by the Railways after a decree is awarded  by the Tribunal in favour of the claimant subject to satisfaction of Railway.

Time limit for filing claims for train accident is one year from the date  of  occurrence  which  can  be  condoned  by  the  Railway  Claim Tribunal, if sufficient reason is shown.

(e) : Number of consequential train accidents on Engineering account that  took  place  during  the  last  two  years  and  the  current  year  upto 15.07.2016 is given below:-

| Year        | Responsibility                             |   Total |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------|---------|
|             | On Engineering Account                     |      27 |
| 2014-15     | Engineering dept. jointly with other Dept. |       9 |
|             | Grand Total                                |      36 |
| 2015-16     | On Engineering Account                     |      26 |
|             | Engineering dept. jointly with other Dept. |      12 |
|             | Grand Total                                |      38 |
| 2016-17     | On Engineering Account                     |       8 |
| (Up to 15th | Engineering dept. jointly with other Dept. |       1 |
| July, 2016) | Grand Total                                |       9 |

Measures are being undertaken on continuing basis for upkeep of tracks to prevent accidents which includes replacement of over-aged assets, adoption to suitable technologies for up-gradation and maintenance  of  track. Safety drives and inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.