Big gift for these government employees! Over 11 lakh officials to get 78 days' bonus

It's a big day for Indian Railways employees, nothing short of a massive Diwali gift! The government has announced it will pay 78 days bonus to over 11 lakh railway employees. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Prakash Javadekar today briefed the media on key Cabinet decisions. The Union Cabinet today approved 78 days' of wages as a bonus for Railway employees. This will benefit 11.52 lakh Railway employees - these bonuses will cost the government Rs 2,024.40 crore. 

"It is an acknowledgment of employees' contribution to efficient Railway operations and aimed at maintaining high levels of motivation among railway personnel," the government said in a statement.

"Productivity-linked bonus amounting to 78 days' work wages for over 11.5 lakh non-gazetted Railway employees (excluding RPF/RPSF personnel) approved," the government said.

''The productivity-linked bonus is aimed at acknowledging the employees' contribution to efficient railway operations'', an official statement said.

This is for the sixth consecutive year that productivity linked bonus is being given to Railway employees.

In another bog decision, the government has also banned e-cigarettes. The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect the population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through E-cigarettes, according to experts.