Laloo likely to announce drive to fill RPF vacancies

Laloo would announce a special drive to create additional 11,000 posts and fill 8,000 vacancies in the Railway Protection Force.

In a bid to tone up security and improve safety of passengers, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad is likely to announce in his maiden Budget on Tuesday, a special drive to create additional 11,000 posts and fill 8,000 vacancies in the Railway Protection Force.

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Railway Ministry sources said that such a measure would help improve the sagging safety and win confidence of the travelling public.

They said the Railways is likely to provide Rs 129 crore for improving the facilities for the forces, which included acquisition of high speed jeeps, motorcycles and latest wireless communication system.

Over and above, the minister may also announce filling of over 80,000 vacancies in the safety category paving the way for opening up of employment opportunities stopped during the previous BJP-led NDA government.

The Railway Minister, who had earlier indicated of presenting a pro-poor Budget, was likely to announce retirement of "aged and infirm" coolies and transfer their jobs to their sons.

This would directly or indirectly help about one lakh coolies all over the country though they are not Railway employees.