Shimla, August 30: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Sunday that the Congress government is committed to the welfare of employees and pensioners. Addressing the people in Dehra in Kangra district, the chief minister said full arrears, leave encashment and gratuity had been paid to pensioners aged above 67 years.
He announced that Class-IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2022, would receive an additional Rs 20,000 over and above their salary arrears.
Sukhu said directions would be issued to remove the condition related to basic pay for Class-I, Class-II and Class-III pensioners. “Following the removal of this condition, all eligible pensioners would be paid 35 per cent of their pending arrears. With this payment, a total of 57 per cent of the employees’ arrears would be cleared,” he said.
The chief minister said the state government will also provide Dearness Allowance (DA) to employees in due course. He distributed cheques of financial assistance of Rs 3,500 each to 800 fishermen under the ‘Mukhyamantri Machhuaara Samman Nidhi’ Yojana.
The assistance has been transferred directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Sukhu said the state government is fighting for Himachal Pradesh’s rights and taking effective measures to combat corruption.
“Despite the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), the government ensured financial benefits to employees and pensioners through financial prudence and discipline,” he said.
The chief minister said drinking water projects worth Rs 100 crore are under implementation in Dehra.
“The ozone-based drinking water project will also be completed within the next year,” he said.
