Railways to provide jobs to kith and kin of Mumbai blast victims

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The government today said that as a purely humanitarian gesture, the Railways had taken a decision to provide employment to the wards and legal heirs of the victims of the July 11, 2006 Mumbai blasts victims.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said there is no provision in the rules for appointment to dependents of victims of accidents or bomb blasts on the Railways in Group 'C' and 'D' posts.

''However, in exception to the rules and purely as a humanitarian gesture, the Railways have taken a decision to provide employment to the wards/legal heirs of the victims of Mumbai blasts case in Group 'D' category only,'' he said.

He also ruled out any reconsideration of the decision to appoint them in Group 'C' category as a special case.

Mr Velu said the Railways received a total of 124 applications for employment from the dependents of the Mumbai blast victims. Of the applicants, 15 are under matric, 16 matric, 36 higher secondary, 30 graduates and seven post-graduates.

Besides, 17 candidates are still studying and three are yet to submit documents.

UNI