The Union Cabinet has given the green light for the payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) to over 11.7 million railway employees across India. This decision comes as a recognition of the excellent performance demonstrated by the railway workforce in the fiscal year 2023-2024.
Breaking Down the Numbers
- Total beneficiaries: 11,72,240 railway employees
- Total cost to the government: Rs 2,028.57 crore
- Bonus amount: Equivalent to 78 days’ wages
- Maximum payout per eligible employee: Rs 17,951
Who Benefits?
The PLB will be distributed among various categories of railway staff, including:
- Track maintainers
- Loco pilots
- Train managers (guards)
- Station masters
- Supervisors
- Technicians and their helpers
- Pointsmen
- Ministerial staff
- Other Group XC staff
Motivation Behind the Move
The government statement emphasizes that this bonus serves as an incentive to motivate railway employees. It aims to encourage continued improvement in the overall performance of the Indian Railways.
Record-Breaking Performance in 2023-2024
The decision to award the PLB comes on the heels of an impressive year for the Indian Railways:
- Record cargo loading: 1,588 million tonnes
- Passenger traffic: Nearly 6.7 billion
Factors Contributing to Success
Several elements have played a crucial role in achieving these remarkable figures:
- Significant infrastructure improvements
- Record capital expenditure by the government
- Enhanced operational efficiency
- Implementation of better technology
Consistent Recognition of Railway Staff
This isn’t a one-off gesture. In the previous year, the government had also announced a 78-day bonus for non-gazetted employees. The trend continues from 2022 when a Diwali bonus of Rs 17,951 per employee was rolled out to over 11 lakh staff, totaling Rs 1,832 crore.
