Ticket checkers on the Central Railway were diagnosed with hypertension, blood pressure, and stress, according to doctors who conducted medical tests on them
In a recent fitness test wherein 400 ticket checkers (TCs) from the Central Railway (CR) were examined, over 50 per cent were found medically unfit. According to tests conducted by doctors at the Sion hospital’s Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) department, half of the TCs checked were obese and had high blood pressure, while 28 per cent of TCs checked were stressed, and 15 per cent had hypertension.
Getting tested: Out of a 1,400-strong team of ticket checkers, only 400 showed up for the medical exam. Representation pic
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Although there are around 1,200 TCs employed with CR, the medical check-up was conducted on 400 TCs who had turned up for the tests. According to the doctors at the PSM department, who conducted the medical checkup, this is an alarming figure and the railway authorities should now wake up to take care of their staff.
Dr Vijay Singh, professor with the PSM department, said, “We had called all TCs for medical tests, but unfortunately only around 400 turned up. The figures are really alarming, as over 50 per cent of them are obese, diabetic, and have high blood pressure,” said Dr Singh, adding that after conducting the tests the TCs were asked to visit again for further treatment, but very few approached them after the results were given to them. “The tests also revealed that 28 per cent of them had high stress and nearly 15 per cent had hypertension,” added Dr Singh.
The Central Railway Ticket Checking Staff Welfare Trust had organised the camp wherein the TCs had to undergo over 10 different tests for diabetes, hypertension, cancer screening, eye testing, etc. Out of the 400 participants, 77 per cent were male TCs and the remaining were female.
Onkar Singh, former chairman of the organiation who organised the camp, said that this is an issue that needs immediate attention from railway authorities.
“We know that there is a railway hospital, but as a social cause we wanted to check the TCs because they have a stressful job. Many TCs had complained of hectic commuting and arguments with commuters without valid tickets. And since many of them carry out their job during the nights, it takes a toll on their health,” said Singh. Doctors also revealed that many TCs confessed that they were addicted to alcohol and tobacco due to their odd work timings and work pressure.
However, when MiD DAY contacted A K Singh, PRO Central Railway, he said, “We have our own railway hospitals at various places, and our staff undergo tests at these hospitals only. The medical camp was organised by another team. ”
Numbers game
>> TCs checked: 400
>> 52 per cent were affected by changing shift timings.
>> 55 per cent are obese
>> 33 per cent are diabetic
>> 28 per cent diagnosed with stress (moderate to severe)
>> 17 per cent are addicted to alcohol, tobacco, gutka, etc.
>> 15 per cent diagnosed with hypertension u00a0 u00a0
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