Lalu wins: 65 days' bonus for rail staff
Railway minister Lalu Prasad once again had his way when the Union cabinet chaired by PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday approved 65 days’ bonus for railway employees, though the finance ministry was against it.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Railway minister Lalu Prasad once again had his way when the Union cabinet chaired by PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday approved 65 days’ bonus for railway employees, though the finance ministry was against it.
North Block was not in favour of paying more than 59 days’ as productivity-linked bonus, an amount that was paid last year. In fact, the All India Railway Employees Federation had threatened to call a nation-wide strike on this issue. Even last year, railway employees had to put pressure to get 59 days’ bonus as the finance ministry was prepared to give only 55 days’ bonus.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting on Thursday, the railway minister said: “Keeping in view the services rendered by railway men, we have recommended 65 days’ bonus for the year 2005-06 . The Union cabinet has accepted it today (Thursday).’’
The Railways had paid 59 days bonus for the year 2004-05 which had cost Rs 700 crore. This year’s bonus would cost it Rs 800 crore.
Lalu said “from gangmen to officer level, each would get a minimum of Rs 500” more than last year. He also appreciated the services of railway personnel for the turnaround of the national lifeline , which earned a surplus of Rs 13,500 cr in 2005-06 , and hoped that the Rs 20,000 surplus target for the year 2006-07 would be achieved. Dismissing suggestions that the groundwork for the railways’ success was laid by his predecessor Nitish Kumar, the minister said: “Kumar had done nothing.
North Block was not in favour of paying more than 59 days’ as productivity-linked bonus, an amount that was paid last year. In fact, the All India Railway Employees Federation had threatened to call a nation-wide strike on this issue. Even last year, railway employees had to put pressure to get 59 days’ bonus as the finance ministry was prepared to give only 55 days’ bonus.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting on Thursday, the railway minister said: “Keeping in view the services rendered by railway men, we have recommended 65 days’ bonus for the year 2005-06 . The Union cabinet has accepted it today (Thursday).’’
The Railways had paid 59 days bonus for the year 2004-05 which had cost Rs 700 crore. This year’s bonus would cost it Rs 800 crore.
Lalu said “from gangmen to officer level, each would get a minimum of Rs 500” more than last year. He also appreciated the services of railway personnel for the turnaround of the national lifeline , which earned a surplus of Rs 13,500 cr in 2005-06 , and hoped that the Rs 20,000 surplus target for the year 2006-07 would be achieved. Dismissing suggestions that the groundwork for the railways’ success was laid by his predecessor Nitish Kumar, the minister said: “Kumar had done nothing.
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