New Delhi, March 28:The Railway Board has urged all railway employees to donate one day's salary to the prime ministers relief fund to aid the government's efforts to fight the coronavirus. The Board has written to all general managers asking them to appeal to employees in their zones to make the donation.

"An appeal should be made to each one of Railway servants to generously contribute to PMNRF by donating at least one day's basic pay towards this cause," the Board said in its letter. It also said the coronavirus outbreak is one of the worst and most unprecedented disaster faced by the nation. Coronavirus Cases in India Climb to 834, Death Toll Reaches 19.

"In order to facilitate voluntary contribution to PMNRF, it is suggested that one day's basic pay should be deducted from salary of all willing Railway servants except those who give a specific declaration either (a) for non deduction : or (b) for deduction of an amount less than one day's basic pay, on this account," the letter stated.

It also directed the zonal railways and production units to transfer the consolidated amount towards contribution to PMNRF to the Railway Board so that a single cheque on behalf of all emloyees can be handed over to the Prime Minister''s Office.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)