statehood-day-sukhu-announces-agro-panel-pension-arrears

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conveyed his Statehood Day wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh during the 56th celebration held at Pragpur in Kangra district today. The Chief Minister unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from the parade contingents.

 

The parade was led by Parade Commander IPS officer Taruna, and participating contingents included IRBN Jangalberi, IRBN Sakoh, IRBN Pandoh, Police District Nurpur, Home Guards Women Battalion Dharamshala, Home Guards Men and Women Battalion Dharamshala, SDRF Pandoh, Dharamshala Traffic Police, Van Mitras, NCC Government College Dhalyara, Scouts and Guides, and other units.

Congratulating the people of the State on the occasion, he recalled the immense contributions of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Dr Y.S. Parmar, in securing statehood for the State.

CM Sukhu announced the constitution of an Agriculture and Horticulture Commission in the State to ensure the participation of farmers and orchardists and to safeguard their rights. He said that the State Government would present a Bill to form this Commission in the upcoming Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly.

He announced the opening of the SDM office at Pragpur and the PHC at Nalsuha in the Jaswan assembly constituency.

He said that when the present State Government assumed office, the previous government had left liabilities exceeding Rs. 10,000 crore on account of salary and pension arrears of employees. At present, the total outstanding arrears related to salaries, pensions, and other dues amount to Rs 8,555 crore.

Despite the State’s strained financial condition, he announced that the complete payment of arrears of pensioners and family pensioners aged 70 years and above would be made in the month of January this year. He said that an amount of Rs 90 crore would be spent for this purpose.

 

 

He further stated that Class-IV employees, who retired between 1st January, 2016 and 31st December, 2021 have accrued arrears of gratuity and leave encashment due to the revision of pension and related benefits and announced that an additional 50 percent of the gratuity arrears and 70 percent of the leave encashment arrears would be paid to them in the month of January and an expenditure of Rs. 96 crore would be incurred.

Sukhu said that the occasion provided an opportunity to assess the achievements of the past 55 years and to reflect on the direction in which the State should progress in the coming years. With this sense of responsibility and vision, the State Government has initiated the preparation of a document titled 'Samriddh Himachal Vision', which is now in its final stage.

He stated that the Vision Document has been prepared through extensive consultations with people across the State, experts, the administration and institutions. While drafting the document, due consideration has been given to Himachal Pradesh’s environment, aspirations of its hard-working people and its strong social traditions. The objective is to promote development that is environmentally sustainable, disaster-resilient and inclusive of all sections of society, he added.

He assured the people that this Vision would serve as a shared roadmap, maintaining a balance between development and responsibility, progress and environmental conservation, and aspirations and reality, so that Himachal Pradesh could continue on a path of steady progress while preserving its unique identity.

Sukhu said that the previous BJP government had received Revenue Deficit Grants amounting to Rs 46,862 crore, whereas the present Government has received only Rs 18,903 crore so far. He further said that if total Central transfers are taken into account, these stood at Rs 1,16,000 crore during the BJP government, while the current government has received only Rs 70,191 crore to date.

He said, "Similarly, under GST Compensation, Rs 12,861 crore was provided during the BJP government, whereas this compensation has been discontinued during the tenure of the present government."

The Chief Minister said that during the tenure of the 15th Finance Commission, the previous government was allowed additional borrowing during the COVID period in the years 2020-21 and 2021-22. Whereas, due to the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, the present government’s additional borrowing of around Rs 1,700 crore has been stopped. Despite this, he said, the government has worked to improve the financial situation by augmenting its own resources and cutting non-essential expenditure.

He said that the State’s own revenue, which stood at Rs 55,000 crore during the previous government’s five-year tenure, has reached Rs 49,500 crore within just three years of the present State government. He emphasised that "today, we need to stand on our own feet, and for this, tough decisions are being taken."

The Chief Minister said that the present State Government has launched a major campaign for 'Vyavastha Parivartan' in the State. He said that the government would not allow the looting of resources, whereas the previous government compromised with the interests of the State. He said that the State Government has won the legal battles related to the Wild Flower Hall hotel and the Karcham-Wangtoo hydropower project. Meanwhile, the government is resolutely fighting to recover the BBMB arrears from the concerned States, and to take back the Baira Siul hydropower project in Chamba district and the Shanan project in Mandi district from the Punjab Government.

He said that Himachal Pradesh provides air, water, electricity and ecological balance to the entire northern India. The State possesses forest wealth worth several lakh crore rupees. "If we wanted, we could sell our forests in a single year to repay all our debts, but we will never take such an irresponsible step," he said, adding, "The Government is committed to protect to state's resources and enriching the State."  

 

He said that Himachal Pradesh functions as the lungs of Northern India. If Punjab and Haryana are known as the food bowls of the country, it is because the rivers of Himachal play a pivotal role in irrigating the land of these States.