In an effort to address severe staffing shortages, the Railway Board has announced a major recruitment initiative to fill 25,000 vacant positions across different railway zones in India. The drive includes a reappointment scheme aimed at bringing back retired railway employees to temporarily fill vacancies in roles such as supervisors and track men.
Temporary Reappointment of Retired Staff
Under this new scheme, retired employees under the age of 65 can apply to return to service. Their appointments will initially last for two yearswith the possibility of extensions based on their performance. This approach is designed to leverage the experience of former employees to address critical staffing needs within the railway network.
General Managers across all zonal railways have been authorized to reappoint these retirees. To qualify, applicants must meet key criteria, including a good performance record from their last five years of service and medical fitness. Furthermore, candidates should not have any pending vigilance or departmental action cases against them.
Compensation and Benefits
The reappointed employees will receive a monthly payment that is equivalent to their last drawn salaryminus their basic pension. While they will be eligible for travel allowances for official duties, they will not receive any additional increments or benefits beyond this payment structure.
This move comes in response to growing concerns over the operational challenges posed by understaffing in the Indian Railways. For instance, the North-Western Railway alone has 10,000 vacant positionscontributing to various logistical and safety issues, including increased train accidents.
Addressing Staffing Shortages
By bringing back experienced personnel, the Railway Board aims to mitigate these challenges and ensure smoother operations, especially in supervisory roles and other critical positions. The Railway Board emphasized that this reappointment initiative is an urgent step to bolster the workforce and maintain the efficiency and safety of the rail network.
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