VSEU Slams Steel Ministry Over ‘False’ CPGRAMS Replies on Pending VRS Dues at RINL
VSEU has appealed to the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene and ensure that all pending dues are released immediately along with applicable interest
The Visakha Steel Employees Union (VSEU) has launched a sharp attack on the Ministry of Steel, accusing it of submitting misleading responses on the CPGRAMS portal regarding unpaid Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) dues of employees at Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited.
Padi Thrinadha Rao, General Secretary of VSEU, alleged that the Ministry has been uploading “factually incorrect replies” without independently verifying claims made by RINL management, thereby undermining the credibility of the grievance redressal system.
“The CPGRAMS portal was introduced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to resolve public grievances. But the Ministry of Steel’s actions are defeating the very purpose,” Rao stated.
Alleged Violation of VRS Norms
According to Rao, as many as 486 employees who opted for VRS-2 in September 2024 are yet to receive their full and final settlements. He emphasized that as per Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) guidelines, applicable uniformly across all PSUs, employees opting for VRS are entitled to receive all payments on their last working day.
RINL, a PSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel, had rolled out the VRS in three phases. However, the union claims that while employees under VRS-1 received their dues as per norms, those under VRS-2 and VRS-3 remain unpaid, raising serious concerns over selective compliance.
Diversion of Funds Alleged
The union further alleged that funds earmarked specifically for VRS payments under the Government of India’s revival package for RINL were diverted for other purposes without requisite approvals.
“This diversion of funds, without competent authority approval, is not only unjust but also a violation of directions issued by the Ministry of Finance. It has caused undue harassment to employees who opted for VRS in good faith,” Rao said.
Call for PMO Intervention
Escalating the issue, VSEU has appealed to the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene and ensure that all pending dues are released immediately along with applicable interest.
Rao also cited recent rulings of the Supreme Court of India, stressing that employees cannot be denied rightful financial benefits once they have exited service under approved schemes.
Credibility of CPGRAMS Under Scanner
The controversy has also brought into focus the functioning of the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), a flagship platform designed to ensure transparency and accountability in addressing citizen grievances.
VSEU has warned that if corrective measures are not taken, the trust of employees and citizens in institutional grievance mechanisms could be severely eroded.
