Introduce new compensation policy for outsourced staff of electricity board
Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Just before Deepawali, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced release of 3 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) for employees and pensioners to be credited with October salaries and pensions, payable in November. The arrears for the period from April to September 2025 will also be deposited in the bank accounts of the employees in October. Separate orders will be issued for payment of arrears from July 2023 to March 2025.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Biennial General Convention of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Employees Union in Shimla today. The Chief Minister said that after discussions with the union leaders, the government would consider providing One Pension Scheme (OPS) to the employees. He emphasized the need for reforms in the Electricity Board and highlighted that the support of the employees was essential for its success.
He pointed out that electricity production at the Uhl project currently costs Rs. 27 per unit for which senior officials are responsible while expenses of employee of the board was just Rs. 2.50 per unit, as the number of officers were much more than the number of employees. As a result the employees were bereft of the financial benefits.
The government has released Rs. 2200 crore to ensure financial benefits for employees of the HPSEBL. From 2023 to September 2025 the pensioners have received Rs. 662.81 crore as gratuity, medical reimbursements, leave encashment and pension arrears with an additional Rs. 70 crore to be paid by end of this year. Medical reimbursements have been centralized and are now disbursed weekly without any pending dues.
The Chief Minister directed the board to introduce a compensation policy for outsourced employees in case of accidents and ordered the immediate clearance of pending promotions. He also noted that despite the state government providing OPS to employees, pressure from BJP leaders, led the central government to halt additional borrowing. Time and again the Union government is pressuring to withdraw OPS. He acknowledged upcoming economic challenges in the next three to four months but expressed confidence in a swift recovery.
Accusing the previous BJP government of squandering public funds, the Chief Minister said that the current state government inherited a debt of 75,000 crore rupees and employee liabilities of 10,000 crore rupees. He said, "If employees are not receiving their benefits today, it is not due to the present government," adding that no one cared for making Himachal a self reliant State.
Sukhu said that the previous BJP government opened 600 educational institutions before the 2022 assembly elections, but they were forced to take tough decisions to close them. He said that they had brought about reforms in the education sector, which helped Himachal Pradesh rise from 21st to 5th rank in providing quality education. He said that the health sector was in a similar situation, and improvements have been made there as well. The current state government is replacing 20-year-old machinery and strengthening all medical colleges.
He also highlighted reforms in education, health, and medical infrastructure, including the introduction of PET Scans, 3-Tesla MRI machines, and robotic surgeries at Chamiana Hospital and Tanda Medical College with a planned investment of Rs. 3000 crore in new technology.
Chief Minister added that the government is strengthening the rural economy, procuring milk at higher price and providing support prices for crops like wheat, maize, barley and raw turmeric grown through natural farming.The Chief Minister also released the union’s souvenir during the event.
Legislators Sanjay Awasthi, Harish Janartha, Ranjit Singh, Congress leader Surender Mankotia, Chairman HPSEBL Prabodh Saxena, Managing Director Aditya Negi, President All Engineers Union Lokesh Thakur, General Secretary Heera Lal Verma and President HPSEBL Employees Union Kameshwar Dutt Sharma were present amongst others.