pensioners-meet-cm-sukhu-seek-redressal-of-issues

A delegation of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Front, led by its president Atma Ram, met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday and raised several issues concerning pensioners. The delegation submitted a detailed demand charter to the Chief Minister during the meeting.

 

Responding to the delegation, CM Sukhu said the state government has taken several welfare steps for employees and pensioners over the past three and a half years despite facing serious financial constraints and the discontinuation of Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).

 

He said the government restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for 1.36 lakh employees in its very first Cabinet meeting. However, he added that the Union Government has stopped financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore meant to support the implementation of the scheme.

 

The Chief Minister further said the government has released full arrears arising from the revision of pay scales for pensioners above 70 years of age. He further stated that gratuity and leave encashment dues of all Class-IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2022, have also been cleared.

 

Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, and office-bearers of the Pensioners Joint Front were also present during the meeting.

 

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