The Railways has extended by one year the authority of MLAs to issue eligibility (income) certificate to passengers for availing ‘Izzat’ monthly season tickets at reduced rates.
The facility is meant for those working in unorganised sectors – those doing menial jobs, and who have to travel on a daily basis.
However, many of the elected representatives do not even know such a facility exists for the benefit of the poor in their constituency.
“The authority of the MLAs to issue income certificate showing the beneficiary is earning below Rs 1,500 a month is extended by a further one year; ie, up to September 30, 2013,” a railway official said.
In April, the Railways had made the norms for availing Izzat MSTs stricter, including mandatory registration of all the beneficiaries with the supervisors or the station masters after serious deviations were noticed regarding the issue of the concession tickets.
It was then widely anticipated that the power of MPs and MLAs to issue the certificate would be curtailed. “The MLAs should issue income certificates to persons belonging to their constituencies only.
Also, the certificate issued by MLAs is for one-time use. A fresh certificate from the concerned MLA will be required every time a person approaches the station for purchase of ‘Izzat’ tickets,” the official said.
Under the Izzat scheme, a single person from a family working in the unorganised sector with income not exceeding Rs 1,500 a month, will be issued tickets uniformly priced at Rs 25 with which they can travel up to 150 km daily for a month.
However, many MLAs claim they have not been informed by the railways about the facility and hence are not doling out the same to the financially-backward in their constituencies.
“I’ve not been informed about the facility and my idea was that only MPs are authorised to issue the same,” B.D. Devassy, Chalakkudy MLA, said.