Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday rolled back the government’s budget decision to defer three per cent of the salaries for Class I and Class II officers. The move comes amid growing resentment among government employees ahead of the state's panchayat polls. In Himachal Pradesh, where the voting power of government employees is a decisive factor, the rollback is seen as a strategic step to secure their support.
The CM said the temporary deferment of 30 per cent and 20 per cent in the salaries of the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, DGP and senior bureaucrats and officers will continue.
The Chief Minister also announced that all eligible non-gazetted officers of the state police will be granted one higher honorary rank on the day of their retirement.
“I hope this initiative will infuse new energy into the police force,” he said adding that the pending gratuity and leave encashment amounting to Rs 50 crore of Class IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021, will be cleared by the month of May.
The Chief Minister made these announcements after unfurling the National flag on the occasion of 79th Himachal Day celebrations at Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district. He also took the salute at the march past.
Also read: HP CM inspects geothermal-powered fruit-drying unit in Kinnaur
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister greeted the people of the state and also paid tributes to the founder chief minister of Himachal Dr YS Parmar and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for their immense contribution to the formation of Himachal Pradesh.
He announced that all eligible women (18-59 age) in Kinnaur district will receive a 'Samman Nidhi' of Rs 1,500 under the 'Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana'.
He also announced that all eligible non-gazetted officers of the state police will be granted an honorary higher rank on the day of their retirement. He said, "Our government is committed to ensuring respect for police personnel who serve with honesty and dedication. I hope this initiative will infuse new energy into the police force."
The CM also shared that all government institutions, schools and households in Reckong Peo would be connected with a central heating system powered by geothermal energy.
Additionally, he announced Rs 8 crore for connecting Taranda village through a traffic tunnel and the upgradation of Choltu High School to a Senior Secondary School with the implementation of the CBSE curriculum.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a sewerage scheme at Sunnam to be constructed at a cost of Rs 8.72 crore and a flood protection scheme in Gram Panchayat Kafnoo at a cost of Rs 2.51 crore. He also inaugurated the Solding-Chaura road built at a cost of Rs 4.88 crore.
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