Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, released a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) on 27 February 2024 at the Karnail Singh Railway Stadium in New Delhi.
The postage stamp, which depicts the logo of the AIRF and its motto “Unity is Strength”, was unveiled in the presence of Shri Shiv Gopal Mishra, the General Secretary of the AIRF, and other dignitaries from the railway fraternity and the postal department.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vaishnaw lauded the role of the AIRF in safeguarding the interests and welfare of the railway employees and in contributing to the development and progress of the Indian Railways. He said that the AIRF has a glorious history of struggle and sacrifice for the rights and dignity of the railway workers and has also been a partner in nation-building.
He also recalled the contribution of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under whom he had served as a deputy secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, in creating the public-private-partnership framework for infrastructure projects. He said that the government is committed to modernise and transform the Indian Railways into a world-class service provider with the help of private sector participation and innovation.
Shri Mishra thanked the Railway Minister for releasing the postage stamp and for his support and cooperation to the AIRF. He said that the AIRF, which was founded on 24 April 1924, is the oldest and largest trade union federation of the railway employees in India, representing over 1.4 million workers across all categories and zones. He said that the AIRF has been fighting for the improvement of the working and living conditions of the railway workers and for the betterment of the railway system.
He also highlighted the various achievements and activities of the AIRF in the past 100 years, such as organising strikes, agitations, campaigns, seminars, workshops, cultural programmes, sports events, and social service initiatives. He said that the AIRF has also been actively involved in the international labour movement and has been affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).
He said that the centenary year of the AIRF, which began on 24 April 2023, will be celebrated throughout the country till April 2024 with various programmes and events at the branch and division levels. He appealed to the railway workers to join the centenary celebrations and to strengthen the unity and solidarity of the AIRF.
The postage stamp release ceremony was part of the centenary celebrations of the AIRF, which also included a cultural programme, a photo exhibition, and a felicitation of the senior and retired members of the AIRF. The ceremony was attended by a large number of railway employees, union leaders, and officials from the railway and postal departments
