New Delhi: More than 60,000 employees of public sector telecom companies Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) have applied for Voluntary retirement scheme (VRS). Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash gave this information on Friday. The number of employees opting for VRS alone is more than 57,000 BSNL employees.

BSNL said, "The options for voluntary retirement under the scheme will be open from November 4 to December 3 and the effective date for voluntary retirement under the scheme will be January 31, 2020."

BSNL has introduced Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for its employees. BSNL has asked its circle chiefs to make this scheme available to all officers.

The company told its circle chiefs, "In compliance with the decision of the Union Cabinet and conveyed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that BSNL Voluntary Retirement Scheme-2019 is being circulated to all officers. As an option to employees You have been invited to choose this scheme. "

What is the scheme

Under VRS, employees above 53.5 years of age will get 125 per cent of their salary, which they can earn in the remaining period of their service. Apart from this, employees between 50 and 53.5 years of age will be paid 80 to 100 per cent of their salary, which they can get in the remaining period of their service. On selecting VRS, pension of employees above 55 years of age will be started only after they have completed 60 years.

BSNL has instructed its circle officers to publicize the scheme so that a large number of employees can opt for retirement and avail this scheme within the stipulated time frame in the company.

All the circles are to hold open house sessions, so that maximum information can be provided to the employees about this scheme. It is believed that this will enable them to think seriously about their retirement decision.

Apart from this, billboards are also to be arranged to highlight the main features of the scheme.

In fact, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently asked BSNL to start a dialogue with its employees on VRS. He also suggested to present it well for better response.