More than 78,000 employees ofBSNL have retired on Friday, in one of the largest retirement drives in thecountry. Reducing the number of employees is one way for the cash-strapped PSUto find a way out of the financial crisis they find themselves lodged in now.
"Approximately 78,300employees have opted for the VRS as per data received from all the circles tillthe closing of the scheme. This is as per our target. We were expectingreduction of 82,000 headcount. Besides VRS applicants, around 6,000 employeesalso retired," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director P.K. Purwar told. Therewould be around 85,000 employees left after the retirement drive.
According to the scheme, all regular and permanent employeesof BSNL including those on deputation to other organisations or posted outsidethe corporation on deputation basis, who attained the age of 50 years or above,are eligible to seek voluntary retirement under the scheme.
The amount of ex-gratia for any eligible employee will beequal to 35 days' salary for each completed year of service and 25 days' salaryfor every year of service left until superannuation. Around 78,300 employees ofBSNL and 14,378 of MTNL have opted for the scheme.
