Presidential Address
Minimising Accidents will mark the School's success
Dr.Rajendra Prasad
President of Indian Union
Inaugurating the institute
on 9th October 1956
If the staff getting out of this Institute proves their ability to reduce rail accidents, then we can count on the success of the school, remarked Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Indian Union, while inaugurating the Zonal Training School at Udaipur.
He said, it was the British view that Indians cannot work with perseverance and hence all the coveted posts were in the English reservations. But after achieving independence, we have proved our merit. New factories are emerging where we are manufacturing coaches and engines.
Dr. Prasad said, it is hardly possible for any other country to have such a long and large network of railway lines that we have in India. It was a Herculean job to maintain and look after the railway routes since we did not have the trained manpower to carry out the work with efficiency but we strived against all odds to emerge out as winner.
We no longer need to import railway coaches from Britain; on the contrary we will be able to supply the same in the international market in the days to come.
Stressing on the need of the Railway School, the President said, it is the need of the hour to try to the fullest of our capabilities to reduce the railway casualties and the establishment of the Railway Training School is with the noble purpose to instill awareness and sense of responsibility in the railway personnel so that they can extend a safe journey to the millions of passengers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri opined that it is a major responsibility of the railways to take across the development projects of the Second Five Year Plans. The funds and resources could be arranged, but the need of efficient and trained employees would only be sourced from Railway Training Schools.
The inaugural function of the School was attended by various dignitaries, prominent among them include Shri Mohanlal Sukhadia, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Maharana of Udaipur and Shri M Dhanpati, General Manager of Western Railway. Other than the trainees and staff members, the citizens of Udaipur in large numbers also attended the function with much enthusiasm.
Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the President of India, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Minister for Railways, Shri Mohan Lal Sukhadia, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Maharana Shri Bhagawat Singh of Mewar and other VIPs are seen visiting the Transportation Model Room.