Facing Staff Crunch, Railways To Rehire Retired Employees Under 65 Years Of Age

To address staffing shortages, the Railway Board has initiated a recruitment drive for 25,000 positions across various zones. Additionally, a scheme has been introduced to temporarily fill vacancies by rehiring retired railway employees.

Under this programme, retired staff under the age of 65 can apply for roles such as supervisors and trackmen.

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Appointments will initially last for two years, with the possibility of extensions. General Managers of all railway zones are authorised to recruit these retirees, provided they meet medical fitness requirements and have favourable performance ratings from the last five years.

According to the order, applicants must have received positive ratings in their confidential reports for the five years preceding their retirement and must not have any pending vigilance or disciplinary cases.

Rehired employees will be compensated with their last drawn salary, adjusted by subtracting their basic pension. They will also be entitled to travel allowances for commuting and official tours, but they will not be eligible for additional benefits or salary increases.

This decision comes in response to a rise in train accidents and a shrinking workforce. In the North-Western Railway alone, there are 10,000 vacant posts, and the initiative aims to mitigate operational challenges caused by understaffing.

The Railway Board emphasised that rehiring retired staff is essential to meet the immediate need for personnel in supervisory and other critical roles.