Delegation of HP Pensioner’s Joint Action Committee calls on Sukhu

A delegation of Himachal Pradesh Pensioner’s Joint Action Committee led by its President Suresh Thakur called on Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today and presented  him a demand charter of the Committee. The Chief Minister assured them to consider their genuine demands sympathetically.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to ensure the welfare of pensioners and employees as their contributions to the development of the state were immense. He said that the state government has directed the Heads of the Departments to clear the arrears of Class-IV pensioner’s within four days. He said that the directions had also been issued to clear the medical reimbursement claims of pensioners and employees within four days.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government had restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees in its very first Cabinet meeting, despite repeated pressure from the Union Government to implement the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). He said that the state would continue with OPS under all circumstances.

The Chief Minister further said that the Union Government has stopped financial assistance of Rs. 1600 crore for implementing OPS. Apart from this the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), which the state had been receiving since 1952, had been discontinued due to which the state is suffering a loss of Rs. 8,000-10,000 crore per annum for the state. He termed this a denial of the rights of the people of Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said that the previous BJP government had received Rs. 54,000 crore under the Revenue Deficit Grant and Rs. 16,000 crore as GST compensation, whereas the present state government has received only Rs. 17,000 crore as RDG, which is four times less. Despite these financial constraints, he said, the state government is ensuring that the interests of the pensioners and employees are protected.

Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan and office bearers of  Himachal Pradesh Pensioner’s Joint Action Committee were also present on the occasion.