How to Effectively Convey Concerns to the Railway Minister and Minimize Trains for Senior Citizens

With the increased focus on improving railway services in India, it is essential for citizens to voice their concerns and suggestions to the Railway Minister. This article discusses the steps to follow when communicating with the Railway Minister and provides tips for effective written correspondence. Additionally, it highlights a real-life example of a senior citizen's struggle with train reservations and the necessary measures to ensure fair allocation of berths for the elderly.

Steps to Contact the Railway Minister

To effectively communicate your concerns to the Railway Minister of India, you can follow these structured steps:

Official Website: Visit the official website of the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Here, you can often find an official email address for correspondence. Email: Write a concise and respectful email outlining your concerns. Be sure to include specific examples and suggestions for improvement. Postal Mail: Address a letter to the Railway Minister using the following format:
To: The Honorable Minister of Railways Ministry of Railways Rail Bhawan Raisina Road New Delhi – 110001 India Public Grievance Portal: Use the Government of India's Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) to lodge complaints and feedback regarding railway services. Local MP: Contact your local Member of Parliament (MP) to bring the issue to the attention of the minister.

Tips for Writing Your Letter/Email

When drafting your communication, keep the following tips in mind to ensure a clear and effective message:

Be Clear and Concise: Clearly state the issues you have observed. Provide Specific Examples: Mention specific incidents or areas of concern, such as cleanliness, safety, and delays. Suggest Solutions: Offer constructive suggestions for improvement. Maintain a Polite Tone: Use a respectful and polite tone throughout your communication.

A Real-Life Scenario

Ashok Kumar Tewari, a senior citizen from Jhansi, has shared his experience regarding the difficulties faced during his train journey due to the lack of appropriate berths. His story highlights the current inadequacy of the railway system in accommodating senior citizens.

Ashok and his wife, both senior citizens with numerous ailments, needed to travel from Buxar station to Howrah on 29–11–2023. Upon arriving at Patna Junction station, they found that 35 seats were available in train no. 13006. Despite being senior citizens, they were allocated upper berths. Unfortunately, these positions were not suitable for their limited mobility, making it difficult for them to climb up.

Here is an excerpt from Ashok's complaint letter:

Respected railway minister ji aapse nivedan hai ki aapne reserved coach mein waitimg walon ko allow na karne ka acha faisla liya hai but aapse nivedan hai ki please janta ki suvidha dhyaan rakhte hue har train mein general coach badane ki kripa karein aapki mahaan daya hogi, regards Rajesh kataria jhansi.

Additionally, he wrote:

I write to inform you that my wife and myself being senior citizens finding that there is no seat available from Buxar station to Howrah for our return journey on 29–11–2023. Searched alternative tickets from Patna Junction station and found 35 seats were available in Train no 13006. Despite being senior citizens myself and my wife were both allotted upper berths. We being senior citizens with so many ailments it is practically impossible for us to climb up to upper berths this never happen before. Our PNR number being 2304370140. Under the circumstances we request you to pass an order to your department to take proper care to senior citizens while allotting berths. On the one hand, you are not restoring the senior citizens’ concession and on the other hand, your department is not taking care in allotting proper berths. Hope you will pay proper attention to the grievances.

Underlining the need for better communication and solutions, Ashok Tewari's request highlights the critical issue of properly allocating berths for senior citizens in trains.

Conclusion: By following these steps and tips, you can ensure that your concerns are effectively communicated to the Railway Minister. This will help in bringing necessary changes and improvements to the railway system, making it more inclusive and accessible for all, especially senior citizens.