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Goa government offers VRS to employees

The Goa government has introduced a voluntary retirement scheme, or VRS, for its employees, offering a package of benefits for those who opt for it after completing 15 years of qualifying service.

With this initiative, this tiny state on the west coast has, perhaps, become the first state in the country to evolve such a retirement scheme for its employees on the lines of public sector corporations, an official spokesman said.

Under the scheme, which will remain in force till August 15 this year, any employee who has completed the qualifying service period could seek voluntary retirement.

The applications would be examined and recommended by a committee comprising the head of the department, the secretary and the minister concerned and accordingly accepted or refused.

However, if the government decides to refuse voluntary retirement to any eligible applicant, the employee would be given an additional increment, subject to availability of funds. But the applications that are kept in abeyance will not qualify for additional increment.

The state government also announced the details of the benefits to be given to those employees who opt for VRS.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the state government has finalised a policy to deal with the situation arising out of the posts that will lie vacant consequent to employees opting for VRS.

State Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha had announced in march this year that 40 per cent of the posts falling vacant owing to retirements would be abolished with immediate effect and 60 per cent of the posts would be filled up progressively in stages.

According to the plan, filling up of even these posts will be contingent on prospective candidates, successfully completing a course in the staff recruitment and training college, which is to be set up for the first time in the state to mould human resource and optimise its potential.

The establishment of the college will be financed through saving generated out of VRS and the training will include an 18-month course on all aspects of government administration, law governance and management.

The trainees will be exposed to computers and imparted adequate skills that could help them in their future work in the government.

According to tentative proposals, the college will not involve any additional expenditure on staff since existing staff from the government will by and large comprise the team of instructors. The candidates enrolled will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 100 and will be absorbed after successful completion of the course.

Besides, the state government also proposes to set up a committee to streamline asset management of government and public sector enterprises and also to suggest measures for introduction of modern corporate management practices and techniques to employees of state public sector undertakings.

UNI

Business

Goa