Bihar offers relief, unions refuse

Trade union members have rejected the package as it does not say anything about the salaries not paid to its employees for the last several years. ‘‘There is no mention of salaries which are due and there is no provision to re-employ the workers in alternate jobs. All they are saying is these corporations will be closed and and the employees can do what they want,’’ said R.N. Thakur, general secretary All-India Council of Trade Unions.

‘‘We will meet the CM and try to work things out. Nobody is satisfied with it,’’ he said.

He added there was no mention of VRS or any retirement scheme for the employees. Sources say, only those who were holding sanctioned posts would be eligible for the relief package.

The relief package provides three options to the employees. The first option offers joining the government service provided they clear the examination to be held in 2007 for fresh recruitments.

The employees will get special weightage like a waiver of 10 years of their age to compensate for the years they lost, according to sources. The second option is if they undergo technical training the state will pay half the fees and the third option is a Rs 30,000 grant to open a new business.

While unions of many of the corporations have already decided to go to court over the imminent closure and the relief package, the government has decided to go ahead with its plans. ‘‘We had two options to either close the boards and corporation and in most cases revival is difficult. Those which can’t be run will be shut down,’’ said senior Cabinet minister Jagdanand Singh.