Kollam: The Railways is planning to implement a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for posts that have heavy workload. Employees aged above 55 years working in posts of loco pilot and track maintainer (trackman) will be considered for the VRS package named 'Salute'.

Earlier, the Railways had introduced another VRS package for the staff in the same positions. According to that, the children of the retiring staff were given appointment in the same post. However, this scheme was stopped after job candidates approached the court and got a favourable verdict. In the new VRS package, the dependents will not get the job.

Half the amount the employees would have received till the retirement age will be provided. The free travel passes given to the staff will be available for the employees taking VRS till the day of retirement. The Railway Board stated that the VRS package is introduced to avoid making the staff do heavy works even after the age of 55. They have also sought opinion of the 'Salute' scheme from recognized staff associations.

Meanwhile, the staff unions opined that the new VRS scheme is not a salute, but a disgraceful farewell for the employees who worked for decades. They added that the new package is a strategy to reduce staff in the Railways. The unions demanded that the old scheme of giving appointment to the dependents should be restored.