**Summary:**
This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3778, addressed to the Minister of Steel on August 12, 2025, regarding compassionate appointments within Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Steel. The question raised concerns about the disparity in compassionate appointment policies across PSUs, specifically Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), where eligibility is often restricted to deaths resulting from specific diseases like cancer or kidney failure. The inquiry questioned whether this limited scope creates unequal opportunities for dependents of employees who die from other serious illnesses, leading to financial and mental hardship. The question further probed whether the government would revise the compassionate appointment policy to prioritize socio-economic impact over the cause of death and consider issuing uniform guidelines for all PSUs to ensure equitable opportunities for all dependents of deceased employees.
In response, the Minister of Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, acknowledged that some Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Steel, including SAIL, provide compassionate appointments in cases of death due to accidents arising from employment. SAIL also provides compassionate appointments for dependents of employees declared incapacitated by chronic debilitating diseases. The Minister also stated that some CPSEs have implemented alternative welfare measures such as financial assistance, educational support, and continued access to select employee benefits to support the families of deceased employees where compassionate appointment is not applicable. However, the Minister clarified that there is no proposal under consideration to revise the current compassionate appointment policy or issue uniform guidelines for all PSUs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Steel: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for policies related to the steel industry.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI DULU MAHATO: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question.
PSUs: Public Sector Undertakings; government-owned enterprises.
compassionate appointment policy: A policy that allows the appointment of dependents of deceased employees in PSUs.
SHRI H.D. KUMARASWAMY: The Minister of Steel answering the question in the Lok Sabha.
Central Public Sector Enterprises: Government owned enterprises under the Ministry of Steel.
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL): A major Public Sector Undertaking in the steel industry in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STEEL
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3778
FOR ANSWER ON 12.08.2025
COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENTS BY PSUS
3778. SHRI DULU MAHATO:
Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that in many PSUs including SAIL,
compassionate appointment is allowed only in case of death due to certain particular
diseases such as cancer, kidney failure etc.;
(b) whether it is a acceptable fact that in case of death due to other serious and
undefined diseases, the dependents do not get equal opportunity, due to which they
have to face financial and mental difficulties;
(c) whether the Government is considering to revise the compassionate appointment
policy and give priority to social and economic impact instead of definition of cause of
death; and
(d) whether the Government is considering to issue uniform guidelines for all PSUs,
so that the dependents of all deceased employees get equal opportunity, if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STEEL (SHRI H.D. KUMARASWAMY)
(a)&(b): Some Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSEs) under Ministry of Steel
including Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL) provide compassionate appointment
to the dependent family members of the deceased employee when the death occurs
due to accident arising out of and in the course of employment. In addition, SAIL
provides compassionate appointment to the dependent of the employees declared
incapable due to suffering from some chronic debilitating diseases.
Some CPSEs have instituted alternative welfare measures to extend support
to the families of deceased employees. These measures include financial assistance
schemes, educational support for children, and continued access to select employee
benefits, ensuring that bereaved families receive meaningful support even in cases
where compassionate appointment may not be applicable. These efforts reflect the
commitment of CPSEs to safeguard the social and financial well-being of affected
families.
(c)&(d): No such proposal is under consideration.
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