Chief minister Nitish Kumar at the 89th annual convention of All India Railway Federation. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday suggested the railway board to use its powers to improve the condition of the trade unions.

Nitish, a former railway minister, supported the demands of the All India Railway Federation at its 89th annual convention on the premises of the Rajendra Nagar terminal.

Pointing to railway board chairman Arunendra Kumar, Nitish said: “I was also a railway minister and I know that the railway board can do anything if it is firm with its decision. You must not just surrender, the trade unions are with you.”

The federation wants scrapping of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS). The NPS is contribution-based and does not provide any guarantee for pension payment.

In the presence of the railway board chairman, the federation reiterated its demand to have a pension scheme that provides some guarantee about pension payment.

Nitish also said the railways should not compromise on safety. “There should not be any compromise on safety and the railways should first think about it. Indian Railways is like a family and I heard Shiv Gopal Mishraji (general secretary of the federation) talking about the threat of Indian Railways going into the hands of private players. It is impossible, the railways can never be privatised,” he said.

Before the function began, the railway board chairman met with senior officials, including East Central Railway general manager Madhuresh Kumar, assistant GM Ajay Shukla and chief administrative officer (construction), south, L.M. Jha.