more-in MADURAI Over 150 employees observed a fast here on Tuesday protesting the Indian Railway’s move to redeploy retired employees to fill vacant posts. The protest was organised by Loco-Running Staff Association affiliated to Southern Railway Mazdoor Union. Leaders from various political parties — G. Thalapathi (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), N. Nanmaran (Communist Party of India - Marixst), K. John Moses (Janata Dal - Secular), Nandasingh (All India Trade Union Congress), Vetrikumaran (Naam Tamilar) and Irulappan (Social Justice Protection Federation) — addressed the fasting employees. SRMU’s Assistant Divisional Secretary V. Ramkumar led the protest. Speakers complained about the railway’s unilateral decision of employing retired staff to fill 583 vacant posts in Madurai Division. Around 60 retired employees had already been appointed, Mr. Ramkumar said. While lakhs of educated youth were waiting for jobs, the speakers said, redeploying retired staff in existing vacancies would only continue to render the youth jobless. Stating that people were made to retire from jobs after 60 years of age as they lose their physical and mental strength, the leaders said that retired employees could not have any accountability, especially in safety department. The union divisional functionaries J.M. Rafi and Ramasubbu were among those who addressed the protest.

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