Question : EMPLOYEES OPTING FOR VRS

(a) whether the Railways have recently made a provision for providing employment to the dependents of railway employees opting voluntary retirement from service (VRS) in the security category ;

(b) if so, the reasons for not extending the benefit of the scheme to other cadres of railway employees ;

(c) the time by which the provision for providing employment to the dependents of railway employees opting for VRS under the scheme is likely to be effective; and

(d) the details of posts lying vacant under this scheme?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS(SHRI K. H. MUNIYAPPA)

(a) to (c) : No provision has been made for providing employment to the dependents of railway employees opting for voluntary retirement from service under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). However, there is a provision for employment to the wards of employees seeking voluntary retirement under the Safety Related Retirement Scheme, for two frontline safety categories. Proposal is under consideration for extending the Safety Related Retirement Scheme to some more safety categories.

(d) : Since retirement of the employee and appointment of his ward under Safety Related Retirement Scheme takes place simultaneously, the question of vacant posts under the Scheme does not arise.