hp-minsters-to-not-draw-salaries-amid-financial-crisis

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took to social media platform X to announce the delay in salaries and allowances of employees for two months following major financial distress.  

His post read, “I have full faith that all of you honourable public representatives will also join us in this noble work and will voluntarily support this important decision of delaying your salaries and allowances.”

“We have taken a decisive step for the economic interests of the state. We must always put the bright future of the state before our gains,” he said.

“This is not just our responsibility, but will also be a symbol of our true service and loyalty towards every citizen of the state”, the post added.

 

The Chief Minister addressed a press meeting today and said that all the cabinet ministers have decided that they will not draw any salaries for two months and reasoned that from the total fund of Rs 9042 crore for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), the central government has not sent any amount to the state. 

“The financial condition of the state is not good. There are many reasons for this. The Revenue deficit grant, which was Rs 8,058 crore, has been reduced to Rs 6258 crore. Next year, in 2025-26 it will be further reduced by Rs 3000 crore to Rs 3257 crore”, the statement read.

The conference also mentioned that the amount for the NPS contribution from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has not reached the state government. 

Moreover, the CM said that the GST compensation for the state has been stopped after 2022.

 “NPS contribution of around Rs 9,200 crore from the PFRDA has not been received from the Union government. GST compensation has been stopped since 2022, and because of that around Rs 2500-3000 has been reduced for the state.”

“Because of OPS, the state’s borrowing has been reduced by around Rs 2000 crore too. It is not easy to get ahead of these problems,” the statement read.

The CM also held the incumbent BJP responsible for the status quo, “The state’s situation is not good, and if anyone is responsible for this, it is the previous BJP government.”

“They had received around Rs 10,000 crore from the revenue deficit grant according to the 15th Finance Commission, and since then this grant has been reducing,” he said.