NEW DELHI -- The Railways is in a fix over a cheque of Rs 950 sent by a passenger apparently to give up the subsidy borne by the government on the train fare between Jammu and Delhi.
Currently, the Railways bears 43% of the cost of all rail fares even as the public transporter incurs a loss of about Rs 30,000 crore every year in subsidising passenger fares.
"There is no provision to accept such cheques so we will return it," said a senior Railway Ministry official.
In order to make passengers aware of the subsidy burden on the fare, it had started printing - "Indian Railways recovers only 57 per cent of cost of travel on an average" - on the computerised printed tickets issued to passengers since June 22 last year.
Recently, a person travelling from Jammu to New Delhi saw the message written on his ticket about the 43% subsidy borne by the Railways during his train journey.
He then decided to forego the subsidy and sent a cheque of Rs 950 to IRCTC for a similar train journey undertaken by him and his wife on the Jammu Rajdhani.
He sent the cheque along with a letter addressing the railway minister stating that "he will never avail such financial benefits in future".
The Railways had already given an option to senior citizens for foregoing concessions while buying tickets.
"But foregoing senior citizen concession is voluntary now and we are planning to make it broadbased covering other categories as well," he said.
The Railways recovers only 57% of the expenses incurred for passenger transportation through sale of tickets of all classes.
The Railways thus aims to convey a message to passengers that they have been given a subsidy of 43%, or in other words, the transporter is incurring heavy losses to the tune of 43% for ferrying travellers.
Tamil Nadu Farmers Protest In Delhi
(01 of17)
Open Image Modal (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(02 of17)
Open Image ModalTamil Nadu farmer pretending to eat grass during a protest at Jantar Mantar. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(03 of17)
Open Image ModalTamil Nadu farmer pretending to eat grass during a protest at Jantar Mantar. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(04 of17)
Open Image ModalFarmers from Tamil Nadu have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for almost four weeks now, demanding the waiver of their loans. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(05 of17)
Open Image ModalOver three lakh farmers have committed suicide in India since 1995. These suicides have largely been attributed to debt, drought, crop failure or poor returns. (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
(06 of17)
Open Image ModalThe farmers have been using symbolic props such as ropes tied as noose, begging bowls during the protest. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(07 of17)
Open Image Modal (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(08 of17)
Open Image ModalMany of the farmers shaved half of their heads as a sign of protest. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(09 of17)
Open Image ModalThe skull they used during the protest reportedly symbolised the deaths of their fellow farmers who died apparently due to severe drought in the state. (credit:The India Today Group via Getty Images)
(10 of17)
Open Image ModalThey used ropes to 'hang' themselves in front of the national media. (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(11 of17)
Open Image ModalMany of the farmers also performed their own symbolic 'cremations', reiterating the fact that if the situation in the state continued, they'd have no choice but to die. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(12 of17)
Open Image ModalThey even held live mice in their mouths to demonstrate that they will have to feed on them if the government fails to declare drought relief packages and waiver loans for the farmers in Tamil Nadu. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(13 of17)
Open Image Modal (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(14 of17)
Open Image ModalThe farmers even enacted eating a snake as a form of protest. (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(15 of17)
Open Image Modal (credit:Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
(16 of17)
Open Image Modal (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
(17 of17)
Open Image ModalOn 14 April, farmers were seen cross-dressed as women during a month long protest at Jantar Mantar. (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)