Rly union protest move to halt employment scheme for children of staff opting for VRS

The All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) Thursday protested against the railways' move to halt the LARSGESS scheme for children of staff opting for voluntary retirement, a statement from the organisation said.

The Liberalised Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety Staff (LARSGESS), which was started during former railway minister Nitish Kumar's term in 2004 giving jobs to children of employees in the lower tier in return for voluntary retirement, has now been kept on hold by the ministry.

"Because it is on hold, there can be no recruitment under this scheme. It is unfortunate that a scheme that benefitted staffers who ensured safety of railways has been discontinued. We have registered our protest today by displaying black ribbons across the rail network," said AIRF General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra.

The LARSGESS scheme was for jobs related to safety like drivers, gangmen and others where one requires quick reflexes and agility, which a person may not possess after a certain age.

The scheme was aimed at encouraging ageing employees to retire by offering the same job to their children. Since 2004, approximately 20,000 jobs were given to children of railwaymen under LARSGESS.

"The railways must start recruitment under the scheme immediately otherwise there will be severe repercussions," warned Mishra.

He also said that the other demands of the union - which included scrapping of NPS and restoration of guaranteed pension and family pension for all railway employees, minimum wages, end to privatisation and corporatisation of Indian Railways, among others, should also be met.