Bonus for Rly employees, Rs 22,000 crore boost for Oil PSUs

Union Cabinet has approved payment of Productivity Linked Bonus equivalent to 78 days to railway employees for the financial year 2021-22. Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said, the bonus amount will be paid to about 11 lakh 27 thousand non-gazetted Railway employees. Thakur said, the financial implication of payment to railway employees has been estimated to be one thousand 832 crore rupees. He said, the maximum amount payable per eligible railway employee is 17 thousand 951 rupees for 78 days.
The Cabinet has also approved 22 thousand crore rupees as one time grant to Public Sector Undertakings, Oil Marketing Companies for losses in Domestic LPG. Thakur said, this will help them to continue their commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, ensuring unhindered domestic LPG  supplies. He said, the prices of LPG have risen globally up to 300 per cent. Thakur said, the compensation will be given to the three companies - Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. 
Union Cabinet has also approved new Scheme- Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26. It is a central sector scheme with 100 per cent central funding. The scheme will be implemented by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.  Thakur said, the scheme will have an outlay of six thousand six hundred crore rupees for the four-year period. This will lead to creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects and create livelihood activities for youth and women. The Union Cabinet has also approved development of two terminals including Multipurpose Cargo Berth and Container Terminal at Tuna Tekra situated in the vicinity of Kandla port in Gujarat. The projects will cater to the future growth in container cargo traffic, boost the economy and generate employment.