Govt gives retirement to 1413 civil servants

The government has given retirement to 1413 civil servants including three joint secretaries effective Friday under the government’s special retirement scheme.

The government had called civil servants who had completed 20 years of service and 50 years of age to apply for a voluntary retirement scheme with an attractive financial package.

Out of 1433 civil servants who had applied for the voluntary retirement between the the period of March 28 to May 14, 1413 are retiring Friday. Newly appointed Minister for General Administration Prabhakar Pradhananga (Rabindra Shrestha) approved the retirement of the civil servants, Thursday. The other 20 civil servants had withdrawn their application.

The Maoist-led government had introduced the voluntary retirement scheme with an attractive financial package to downsize the civil service last year targeting some 5000 civil servants.

The financial package for those choosing to retire includes a pension of seven years in advance at the time of retiring. The pension will be calculated after adding the annual hikes for the number of years remaining for their compulsory retirement.

Those retiring on Friday include three joint secretaries, 59 undersecretaries, 507 section officers, and 964 clerks. The decision will cost the government coffer and additional Rs 1.63 billion.

More than 4000 civil servants have also applied for voluntary retirement after May 14. The government is yet to take decision on their application. nepalnews.com Jun 19 09