Re-engagement Of Retired Railway Employees Is Cruelty Towards Jobless Youth: C. Srikumar

OPINION PIECE

Veteran trade union leader and General Secretary of AIDEF, C. Srikumar, has strongly opposed the growing trend of re-engaging retired employees in the Indian Railways and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), calling it a “cruelty towards the jobless youth of the country.”

Srikumar noted that after the Armed Forces, Indian Railways is the largest employer in the country, providing jobs to over 12 lakh individuals who are committed to running the nation’s most expansive transport system. However, the sector currently faces a critical shortage of more than 3 lakh skilled personnel required for daily operations and safety-related duties. “This shortage is contributing to the rise in railway accidents, which is a matter of grave concern, despite official claims that safety is the highest priority,” he stated.

He criticised the Railway Board’s policy dated October 15, 2024, which allows the re-engagement of retired employees on a contractual basis from Level 1 to Level 7 posts. This policy, which was further liberalised on June 20, 2025, empowers Divisional Managers to make such re-engagement decisions, bypassing Zonal authority.

“These re-engaged employees are paid a fixed salary, calculated by deducting their basic pension from their last pay, without eligibility for allowances such as DA or HRA. This is nothing but a backdoor employment scheme that denies opportunities to lakhs of deserving youth,” Srikumar asserted.

Youth Deprived While Retired Staff Re-employed

Srikumar lambasted this approach, stressing that trade unions advocate for job creation, not recycling of retired staff. “Millions of educated youth, including those who have completed technical training and apprenticeships in Railways and Ordnance Factories, are still waiting endlessly for employment. Many have even crossed the age limit, rendering them ineligible for government jobs,” he said.

He pointed out that the seven new Ordnance Factory Corporations are also “eager to engage retired staff while simultaneously exploiting the youth under the pretext of apprentice training, fixed-term contracts and casual labour.”

Srikumar called this practice an outright denial of social justice, especially since it also undermines constitutional job reservations for the socially and economically weaker sections. “The government’s deafening silence on this issue is disappointing,” he added.

Shortage Leads to Overburdening of Existing Staff

The trade union leader also drew attention to the excessive workload on existing employees due to unfilled vacancies. “Railway Loco Pilots are forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day. Suicides due to work stress are on the rise. It’s a systemic collapse of employment justice,” he warned.

Srikumar cited estimates suggesting that there are over 15 lakh vacancies in Central Government departments alone, and another 10 lakh across PSUs. “Bank, Railway and Defence unions are raising this issue at every available platform,” he noted, adding that the AIDEF has been consistently demanding the filling up of over 2 lakh vacancies in the defence sector alone — particularly from among trade apprentices and dependents of deceased employees, including those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Retired Staff Best Suited as Trainers, Not Replacements

While acknowledging that retired employees possess valuable expertise, Srikumar emphasised that their role should be limited to training and mentoring. “There is certainly merit in using the wisdom of experienced personnel — particularly in research, strategic consultancy or policy roles — but this should be on a time-bound basis,” he stated.

He recommended deploying retired staff in training institutions as honorary instructors, allowing them to pass on their skills to the next generation, instead of occupying regular operational posts.

Highlighting a deeper issue, he said, “The core challenge for unemployed youth today lies in the mismatch between education and industry expectations. Once known for producing top-tier skilled technicians, the trade apprenticeship system in ordnance factories has been severely diluted. It’s time for the government to revamp skill development in tandem with modern-day needs, including AI.”

Call for Immediate Government Action

C. Srikumar concluded with a call to action: “The Government must urgently fill up the vacancies in Indian Railways, Defence, other Ministries, and PSUs like banks, insurance, coal, electricity and others. We cannot build the future of this country by sidelining its youth. Let retired expertise guide and train — not replace — the next generation.”

Views expressed here are those of C. Srikumar, veteran trade union leader and General Secretary of All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF)