Visakhapatnam MP seeks early release of pending VRS dues for RINL retirees

Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat on Thursday urged Union Steel Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy to ensure the immediate release of pending Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) compensation and other statutory retirement benefits for former employees of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited.

During a meeting with the Minister in New Delhi, the MP highlighted a representation submitted by the Steel Executives’ Association of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which detailed the hardships faced by retired employees due to delays in the release of their VRS benefits.

Sribharat informed the Minister that, of the 486 employees who retired under the second phase of the government-approved VRS, only 50 per cent of the compensation had been released. The remaining compensation, along with earned leave encashment, salary arrears, and other statutory retirement benefits, is yet to be paid.

He also pointed out that 67 employees who retired under the third phase of the VRS had received only 25 per cent of the compensation due to them.

The MP urged the Minister to direct the RINL management to expedite the release of the pending dues in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations. He said the early settlement of these dues would provide much-needed financial relief to the retired employees and their families.