152

CHAPTER IX.

March 1930, 465,000 or 56%, in connection with state-managed railways
and 354,000 on other lines. The following statement gives figures
of those in receipt (1) of less than Rs. 20 per month and (2) of Rs. 20 or
more and also shows the numbers of subscribers to the State Railway
Provident Fund and other Railway Provident Funds on 3lst March
1930) +

Railwavs.

State ..
Others ae

Totals ..
12 ClassI .. |
Rest e

All-India Railway employees.

Provident Fund subscribers,

.n receipt
of less
than
Rs. 20 |
p. Mm.

In receipt
of Rs. 20
p.m.
Or more.

Total.

{n receipt
of less
than
Rs. 20
D. ML.

In receipt
of Rs. 20
p.m. .
or more.

Total.

240,011
207.054

225,445
146.548

465,456
353 602

2,109
9.308

138,593
105,197

140,702
114.505

47.065

271.993

R19.058

11.417

243.790

955 907

108,113
a8 052

350,796
21.19%

158,909 | 10,797 | 230,149
60.149 620 | 13.641

240,946
14.961

This analysis shows that only 319, of railway employees actually subscribe
 to provident funds and that, while 65%, of employees in receipt
 of Rs. 20 per month or more are subscribers, not 3%, of those
drawing less than Rs. 20 monthly are members. No provision is made
for workers drawing less than Rs. 15 monthiy to join any of the provident
 funds.

Under the State Railway Provident Fund Rules, workshop and
shed employees are eligible for membership only if they are entitled
to a month’s notice of termination of service and have completed
three years” continuous service. All other permanent non-pensionable
 employees, excluding menials, are eligible to subscribe to
the Fund, provided their pay amounts to Rs. 15 per month. No
menial servant is allowed to subscribe to the State Railway Provident
Fund on any terms. Different interpretations of the term menial are
found on different railways. Generally it is applied to the lower paid
employees, who are more favourably treated as regards provident fund
facilities on company-managed lines. On the latter lines all members
of the staff, except daily-rated employees, are treated very much alike, and
are usually eligible for membership if they receive not less than Rs. 15
monthly. We recognise the difficulties in the way of low paid employees
subscribing to a provident fund, but we feel existing conditions no longer
warrant the distinctions drawn against menials and daily-rated workers.
We therefore recommend that, on completion of one year’s continuous
service, all employees should be eligible to join a provident fund, membership
 being ovtional for those whose emoluments are less than. Rs. 20