NJO REACH OUT/PER NEWS LETTER JANUARY 2007
NJO REACHOUT NEWS LETTER
NJO REACH OUT is nothing but you and us.

The first issue for the year 2007 and seventeenth from inception is in your hands. NJO REACH OUT extends the New Year wishes to all the NJO/PER staff and their families. May the New Year bring prosperity, good health and happiness to everyone.
NJO REACH OUT wishes those NJO staff whose birthday and wedding anniversary fall during this month

Lalu enthralls Harvard and Wharton students: On 27th December 2006 Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav, Minister for Railways held a “class” for 130 students from Harvard and Wharton, outlining in Hindi how the scripted the success story of the country’s loss making railways. The students and professors were clearly spellbound as they heard in silence. The students some of the brightest in the world bombarded the minister with questions wondering if the railway’s dramatic turnaround can be sustained- besides touching upon a rail net work that transports 14 million people daily, lining the length and breadth of the country. The ministers remarked that the ministry of railways when he took over was about to be bankrupt as predicted by Rakesh Mohan Committee. However, within a short span of 30 months, IR can boast of cash surplus of Rs 13000 Crores. The financial situation of the IR was so bad, it was not able to pay dividends to the Govt. of India. (The New Indian Express dt 28.12.2006 pg 11).

Southern Railways exceeds the earnings target - Rs 1872 Crores in first seven months: The budgeted earnings for the current year for southern railway were Rs 3274 Crores. Within seven months from 1st April to 31st October it has earned Rs 1872 Crores. Out of these earnings Rs 845 crores gathered from passenger earnings, Rs 839 Crores from freight earnings and the balance from miscellaneous sources. Incidentally the special trains run during the Christmas holidays were filled up within one day indicating that the rail remains the most favoured transport medium for passengers.

150 YEARS OF CARRIAGE & WAGON SHOPS: Railway Board has sanctioned Rs 6 Crores on this occasion. Shri Thomas Varghese General Manager, Southern Railway inaugurated the yearlong celebrations on 1st December 2006 and also the special logo marking the 150 glorious years of carriage and wagon workshops/Perambur. Shri Ramanathan, Addl General Manager, Shri Jayantha Ghosh, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Shri D K Saraf, Chief Workshop Engineer, Shri M Jeychandren, FA&CAO/W&S/PER, Shri R Kuppan, Chief Workshop Manager/LW/PER and a host of officers, staff and representatives from Organised labor participated in the inaugural function. Within four years since the first railway line in the south was laid between Vysarpadi and Wallajah in 1852, the first combined Loco & Wagon was set up the Madras Railway Company at Perambur in 1856 and Barton Wright was the first CME. The workshop assembled steam locomotives, construction of wooden cars, pantry cars and military vans and postal vans. During the two world wars, the workshop also helped in maintenance of aircrafts. The first covered carriage truck to carry 6 tonne load was built in 1882 and the first upper class composite coach was built in 1899. In 1932, the activity of locos was separated to loco workshops. The POH of AC coaches was started as early as 1954. Until 1963, the workshop was furnishing the coaches built by ICF. In 1983, the first RAJDHANI coaches were POHed in the workshops. In 1999 it acquired ISO: 9001. The total area of the shop is 129 acres: covered areas are 22 acres: the length of track is 45 KMs: coach outturn is 2200: wagon outturn is 6000 Four Wheeler Units: human resources 6114 workers and officers: major shops 12: wage bill Rs 7.5 Crores per month.

Smt Sowmya Raghavan, FA&CAO/MAS has been transferred as Advisor – Budget to Raailway Board in December 2006 and Shri Ram Mohan FA&CAO/ICF has taken over in her place. He belongs to 1972 IRAS batch and is a much read and scholarly person. He holds PG degrees in Economics & Defence Studies, PG Diploma in Spanish, and a Ph D. He is also a member of many professional forums like the Computer Society of India, etc. NJO REACHOUT wishes the very best for the outgoing PHOD and the new incumbent.
Shri S K Mathur, IRSS CMM/HQ is under orders of deputation to RITES for their work in Afghanistan. NJO REACHOUT wishes him all the best and bon voyage too!
Shri L V G Krishan, HC retired from the office of COS/PER after 35 years of service from 30th November 2006. NJO REACH OUT/PER wishes him peaceful and quiet retired life. May the lord increase his years and shower further blessings.
Smt Kuppammal, peon retired from the office of the COS/PER after 36 years of on 31.12.2006. NJO REACH OUT/PER wishes her peaceful and quiet retired life. May the lord increase her years and shower further blessings.

A new Passenger Reservation Centre for exclusive use of pass holders of SR and ICF is opened in the ICF shell division near the UIT ATM and ICF EDPC. This exclusive center will cater to the needs of staff specially the patients and out station staff of S R Head Quarters Hospital/PER. The timings are 10.30 hours to 17.00 hours. No money value coupons can be used here.
A new SBI ATM kiosk is opened at the Carriage & Wagon Workshop/PER for the use of staff in and around the PER area. This was a long felt need of all the staff in general and the patients of RH/PER in particular. NJO REACHOUT thanks everyone who has contributed to this fete.
The LDCE for Accounts and Stores branches are to held in January and February NJO REACHOUT wishes every one. May the best win and climb the status of Group B officers.
DATE WITH ANTIQUITY: Shri R Krishnamurthy, IRAS, retired SAO (in 1991) visited this office for obtaining post retirement complementary pass. He is settled in Jawahar Nagar, Chennai. His son is employed as Sr Supt in the Air Port Authority of India, one daughter as Supt cum Prosecuting Inspector in the Income Tax Dept, another daughter Systems Supervisor in EDPC/MMS and the last daughter is a small business entrepreneur. He has been blessed well by God and he is very much contented in life. NJO REACHOUT wishes him many more years of healthy and active life.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky, the son of Nancy Hanks and Thomas Lincoln, pioneer farmers. Lincoln was tall 6.4 feet. He had little formal education. At a tender age of seven, he helped his father to cut woods and lived in a log cabin. In 1831, he struck out on his own, taking cargo on a flatboat to New Orleans, Louisiana. He returned to Illinois where he split rails and worked in a shop. He began to study law. He was known as “Honest Abe”. Once when he worked in a store he walked six miles to give the correct change to a woman. His birth in a slave state notwithstanding, Lincoln had long opposed slavery. In the legislature, he voted against resolutions favourable to the “peculiar institution” and in 1837 was one of two members who signed a protest against it. Elected to Congress in 1846, he attracted attention because of his outspoken nature. He wrote the “Emancipation Proclamation” which helped to end slavery. He age a famous speech called the “Gettysburg Address” to remember the soldiers who have their lives for the country during the civil war. Abraham Lincoln as the 16th president of the United States helped keep the American Union together during the Civil War and abolished slavery in the United States. By his suave, dedication and determination, he saw that slavery was officially wiped off from the map of United States of America and yet the country remained one united solidly. Remembered for his honesty, compassion, and strength of character, Lincoln remains one of the most respected presidents in American history. Unfortunately, the great legend was brought to an abrupt end. A bigot shot him dead in a Ford’s theatre when he went to watch a play.

Staffs are encouraged to contribute to the newsletter. It is intended to bring a community spirit among the staff of NJO/PER. Any event in the office and personal profiles of exception may be sent for inclusion.

THE EDITORIAL TEAM: JOY MURALISHANKAR,SrSO, ARUNA MOHAN, SR CA ,SELVANATHAN P, AA, CHANDRASEKAR S, AA, BALASUBRAMANIAN R,AA, RAJENDRAN HC Stores

CONTACT: ASHA ARNETTE, AA.,ULAVAN V, AA, SUDHA GOPAKUMAR,SrSO , RAGHAVAN M N, AA, KIRAN M S, AA, JAMES SYLVIA MARY, AA