Lalu goes on concessions spree

Unemployed youths appearing for interviews of state Government jobs will be given full concession in second class, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said on Saturday.

Presenting the 2005-06 Railway Budget in Lok Sabha, Lalu said this facility would be given on production of a certified copy of the call letter and application.

This concession was earlier provided to Central Government job seekers, he said.
Lalu also proposed to extend 75 per cent concession in second class fares to Government rural school students, once in a year, for study tour.

Another 75 per cent concession in second class will be given to girls from rural areas studying in Government schools for attending national level entrance examination for medical, engineering and other professional courses in colleges.

Observing that Railways have been carrying relief material for people affected by natural calamities and disasters, Lalu said he was proposing that in notified cases of natural calamities or disasters, the transportation of the relief material will be carried on priority basis and free of cost.

Railways would also extend free second class transportation to persons stranded in such calamities for their evacuation, he said.

Bodies of those dying while undergoing treatment in major Government hospitals would be carried on priority basis to the nearest rail head connecting their home town at 50 per cent concession of the normal tariff rates, the Railway Minister added.