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CHAPTER X. 
designed to show the progress made in Indianisation and in the 
recruitment of minority communities and give very little information 
as to wages and staff costs in different branches of the service. 
We find an absence of uniformity in nomenclature which prevents 
exact comparisons being made of the numbers of employees and of 
working costs in the different departments of the various railways. 
We therefore recommend that an effort should be made to standardise 
nomenclature and practice so as to obtain comparable returns on which 
to base analyses of numbers and costs ‘of staff. Figures should be 
readily available showing salaries and wages separate from provident 
fund contributions and gratuities and also giving particulars of con- 
tractor labour employed in different branches. Statistics of labour 
turnover and of absenteeism, showing whether these are due to sickness 
or otherwise, should also be carefully maintained and analysed in order 
that these matters may receive the necessary attention. 
Conclusion. 
Many of the recommendations and suggestions contained in 
this Report must, if adopted, ultimately result in increased working 
costs, unless economies are effected in other directions. On some rail- 
ways the cumulative effect will be more serious than on others more 
favourably placed as regards traffic and working facilities. Working 
expenses and staff costs have already materially increased and the 
recent falling off in traffic receipts will make this still more apparent. 
In India cheap transit has always been and must continue to be 
recognised as a necessity. From a study of the statements at our 
disposal we are satisfied that in various branches economies can 
be effected which will go a long way to meet the increased expenditure 
to be incurred in other directions. There is room for greater individual 
effort and, with continued attention to working conditions, there is 
no reason why improved organisation and increased efficiency should 
not permit of most of our recommendations being carried out in the 
near future. The fall in prices has already increased the purchasing power 
of wages and, with increased earning capacity, we believe that 
workers on Indian railways will realise and respond to the need for 
greater efficiency. There will be difficulties to overcome and occasions 
when patient consideration and negotiation will be necessary ; but, with 
goodwill and common effort, we believe that all concerned in the 
development of Indian railways will benefit from a general acceptance 
of the principles indicated in this Report.