THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan 2: Railway employees must obtain a health certificate for eye fitness within a specific timeframe. The Ministry of Railways requires Vision Tests (VT) for all categories of officials and personnel.
Employees under 45 years of age must undergo a VT every four years, those aged 45 to 50 need it every two years, and personnel aged 50 and above must have their vision tested annually.
Chopan: The Only Authorized Medical Facility for Eye Fitness
Umesh Kumar, the Station Superintendent at Daltonganj Railway Station, explained the process:
“VT is mandatory for all railway staff across different age groups—below 45, between 45 to 50, and from 50 until retirement.”
Railway personnel working at stations in the Dhanbad division of East Central Railway (ECR) are required to visit the ECR Medical Hospital in Chopan, Uttar Pradesh, to obtain their eye fitness certificates.
Kumar further elaborated, “We must complete our VT at the ECR Medical Hospital in Chopan, as it is the only facility recognised by the Dhanbad Railway Division to issue valid eye fitness certificates.”
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Sharing his own experience, he said, “I am over 50 years old. I visited the Chopan Medical Hospital last October and will need to go again this October. It’s a mandatory requirement.”
Distance and Testing Procedure
When questioned about the need to travel 170 km to Chopan for VT, despite the presence of several eye specialists in Daltonganj, Kumar clarified, “Railway employees are required to visit Chopan for vision testing as local certifications are not accepted by the railways. The railways rely solely on their eye treatment institutions for this purpose.”
However, when asked whether employees must also travel to Chopan for minor eye issues like burning eyes, watery discharge, or conjunctivitis, Kumar responded, “No. For such minor or emergency eye ailments, railway personnel are free to seek local treatment. But when it comes to vision testing, the Chopan Railway Medical Hospital is the designated and final authority for employees under the Dhanbad division.”
Importance of Vision for Railway Personnel
Vision plays a crucial role in railway operations. Railways emphasize testing for conditions like colour blindness (difficulty distinguishing yellow, red, and green), myopia (nearsightedness), and hypermetropia (farsightedness).
Although railway employees are required to purchase their frames and powered glasses, maintaining good vision is essential for their safety and performance. For railway staff, healthy vision is not just a requirement—it is an asset that directly impacts their ability to carry out their duties effectively.
