By Elton Gomes
The Indian Railways saved 10 lakh trees from being axed by taking its recruitment tests online, continuing on its efforts to go green.
A senior railway ministry official said by conducting recruitment drive online, the railways has saved at least 7.5 crore sheets of paper, or the equivalent of 10 lakh trees.
Here’s what happened
Ranging from assistant locomotive pilot to technician, trackman, gateman and pointsman, the railways had some 88,000 posts vacant, and roughly 2.37 crore people applied for these vacancies. The railways replaced bulky, multi-lingual question booklets with tests that were conducted online.
A senior official involved in the recruitment process told NDTV: “One applicant generally needs three-four paper sheets of A4 size to write the examination. So with the whole exercise going online, the railways have saved a significant quantity of paper sheets.”
The officer said further, “There are 62,000 posts involving track inspection crews and others related to improving safety, while more than 26,000 posts relate to engine drivers and technicians; for these, more than two crore people have applied.”
Besides saving trees and paper, the online recruitment drive will also save time for the railways. By going online, the railways will now be able to conduct the largest computer-based recruitment exam within hours – earlier the same exam took approximately two months to complete, as per media reports.
Why you should care
The Indian Railways has managed to keep up with India’s increasing population and has made efforts in ensuring a better commute. In 2017, according to the Better India, Palakkad’s railway division saved Rs 62 lakhs in electricity bills by switching to LED bulbs and switchboards and installing energy efficient fans and air conditioners.
As part of its campaign to go green, the railways introduced a “green loco” in 2017. In partnership with the French company, Alstom, the railways rolled out its first 12,000 horsepower electric freight train, fitted with low voltage cables and LED lamps.
A report in the Financial Express mentioned the body is attempting to reduce its emissions by 33%. Additionally, through the use of sustained energy resources and clean fuel, the railways plans to cut down on its emissions within the next 10 to 12 years.
If a large body such as the Indian Railways is making efforts to care for the environment, certainly, we as individuals can contribute to conserving the environment. The body has set an example for all entities run by the government to adopt environmentally friendly and green tactics.