Technical Education and Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani said that employees are an integral part of the government and various decisions have been taken to ensure the welfare of the employees.
He stated that the present state government has taken a revolutionary decision to restore the old pension scheme in its first Cabinet meeting to ensure that employees live a dignified life after retirement. The state government has always stood with the employees and is committed to fulfilling their demands for dearness allowance and arrears.
He said that the state government has issued 7 percent dearness allowance to its employees and will pay arrears to 28,000 pensioners above 75 years of age this year. He said that the employee’s are well aware of the state’s economy and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured employee organizations of improving the state’s financial situation and releasing all benefits due to the employees.
The minister said that due to the financial mismanagement of the previous BJP government, the present state government inherited a debt of Rs 75,000 crore and outstanding liabilities of Rs 10,000 crore. Despite this, the state government has ensured financial benefits to employees. The central government has imposed several restrictions on the state government due to its employee welfare decisions. The state’s loan limit has been fixed at Rs 6,600 crore and only Rs 3500 crore revenue deficit grant will be available for the year 2025-26.
Rajesh Dharmani said that despite financial challenges, the state government is trying hard to ensure overall development of the state, for which the cooperation of employees is expected. He said that the state government stands with its employees who are contributing immensely in the development of the state and the doors are always open for dialogue.
Reacting to the statement of state BJP President Rajiv Bindal to remove him from the Cabinet, the Technical Education Minister said that Bindal has forgotten the circumstances under which he was removed as Health Minister and state President of the party by the BJP leadership.
The Minister appealed to the employees to stand with the government in its resource mobilization campaign. He said that the benefit of strengthening the state’s economy will accrue to every section of society and welfare schemes will be prepared for every section of society.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
