NBSTC

WB Government to introduce VRS in NBSTC

Following an order issued by the Transport Department (No.
4009-WT/TR/O/7B-25/2012) the North Bengal State Transport Corporation
is going to introduce the much talked about Voluntary Retirement
Scheme (VRS) for its employees. The issue will be the main topic of
discussion in the next meeting of the Board of Members of the
corporation. The meeting will be held on Sunday in presence of the
chairman cum North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb.

In the order it was mentioned that "introduction of a Voluntary
Retirement Scheme with the objective to bring a substantial portion of
the surplus and unutilized employee under the scheme in the interest
of improvement of overall financial condition of the corporations to
the best possible extent at this moment, has been felt necessary".
Explaining the reason behind introducing of the VRS, the order said
that "it has been felt that the main reason for day-to-day
deterioration of the financial conditions of the corporations is
excessive expenditure towards the monthly salary bills of the
employees of the corporations".

The president of the Cooch Behar district INTTUC, Pranesh Dhar
welcomed the introduction of VRS in the NBSTC. It will be good for the
corporation and the employees, he said.

On the otherhand, the secretary of the district CITU and an MP (Rajya
Sabha), Tarini Roy said that the government should fulfill all the
conditions like ensuring of Pension, Provident Fund and Gratuity for
the workers and employees. Without fulfillment of the conditions the
proposed VRS will bring no good to the employees, he feels.

A director and also the chairman of the Selection Committee of the
NBSTC, Abdul Jalil Ahmed said that they will discuss the VRS issue in
the Board meeting on Sunday. The government offered the scheme for the
interest of the corporation and its employees, he said.

When asked, the Managing Director of the NBSTC, C Murugan, said that
he have been assured from the Transport Department that pension will
be added to the VRS. The required clarification from the department
will arrive from Kolkata, he said. Mentionworthy, a few months back,
all the recognized unions of the NBSTC made it clear that they will
accept the introduction of VRS if the package comes with pension. Now,
it is to be observed whether they are eager to accept it if the
'clarification' on pension comes bundled with the VRS package.