CR Identifies Staff Categories for Priority COVID-19 Vaccination

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As the Government of India prepares to roll out large scale vaccination to guard against COVID-19 vaccination, zones are identifying vulnerable categories of employees to ensure they are vaccinated faster.

Central Railway has identified several roles among its workforce for classification as front line workers. These are workers who are likely to receive COVID-19 vaccination earlier than the rest.

The identification has been done as per the Railway Board Directive to identify frontline workers for Covid-19 vaccination.The move follows the Centre’s decision to provide these vaccines to front line workers first in queue and free of cost.

The categories identified as frontline workers are:

1. All staff of the medical department;
2. Railway Protection Force,
3. Loco Running,
4. Guards,
5. Station Masters,
6. Enquiry cum Reservation clerks and Booking clerks,
7. Ticket Checking,
8. Staff & Welfare Inspectors,
9. The staff of Electrical General, Engineering Works engaged in maintenance of railway staff quarters
10. Safaiwalas of all departments.

The primary rationale for choosing front line staff is the identification of those who come into contact with frequently changing environment.

Non-frontline staff include:

1. The staff of Accounts department
2. Ministerial Staff of all departments
3. Permanent Way Staff
4. Traction Distribution Staff (TRD)
5. Workshop and Shed staff
6. Signal & Telecom Staff
7. Mechanical Staff 
8. General Administration

The rationale for classifying them as non-front line is they work amongst themselves maintaining all Covid-19 standard operating procedures such as social distancing and use of mask and sanitizers.