According to Himachal CM Sukhwinder Sukhu, about 1.15 lakh employees have opted for the old pension scheme, while 1,364 have opted for the new pension scheme. (symbolic image)
Himachal government will pay the employees their dearness allowance pending from January 1, 2023 and will also pay their medical reimbursement bills.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu on Friday said the Himachal Pradesh government will release the salaries and pensions of state employees as well as the pending DA calculated at 4 per cent on October 28.
He said the government will pay the employees their dearness allowance pending from January 1, 2023 and will also pay their medical reimbursement bills.
“October salaries and pensions will be paid on October 28 due to Diwali,” Sukhu said.
He said the salaries were delayed earlier to bring some financial discipline.
Sukhu had earlier said that it receives revenue deficit grant and tax share from the Center on September 6 and 10 and has to borrow from the market at 7.5 percent interest to pay salaries on the first day of every month.
He said the state’s decision to defer salaries would help it save about Rs 3 crore every month and Rs 36 crore annually on interest payments.
He said around 1.15 lakh employees have opted for the old pension scheme, while 1,364 have opted for the new pension scheme. He said that it has been decided that these employees who opt for NPS will also be given DA.
Sukhu alleged that freebies worth Rs 5,000 crore given by the previous BJP government had spoiled the financial health of the state.
He listed free electricity up to 125 units, free water in rural areas, reduction in VAT on diesel and petrol and opening of about 900 health education and other government institutions before the last state elections as some of the decisions of the previous government. It proved bad for the state.
Sukhu said the free electricity scheme has not been withdrawn and metered water charges are being imposed on large hotels, homestays and other commercial establishments in rural areas.
He said, “We are here to change the system and make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by 2027.”
(This story has not been edited by AyraNews24x7 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,
