Punjab Newsline, Shimla, May 27-
Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan criticized Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, stating that he should not attempt to advocate for government employees. Chauhan reminded the public that Jairam Thakur, during his tenure as Chief Minister, had challenged government employees to contest elections if they wanted their old pension restored. He said “Water cannons and force were used against employees, protesting for their pensions”. Chauhan said that the Congress government in Rajasthan reinstated the old pension scheme for government employees, but it was revoked once the BJP came to power.
Harshwardhan Chauhan stated that the Congress government is the true well-wisher of employees. He said that in its very first cabinet meeting, the Congress government reinstated the old pension scheme for 1.36 lakh employees. Additionally, the government has granted a 7 percent dearness allowance during its 14-month tenure. He said that the diet money for police employees has been increased fivefold to Rs 1000. Furthermore, the Congress government has looked after pensioners, providing financial benefits of up to Rs 3.5 lakh. He said “The Congress government has paid 35 percent arrears to pensioners above 75 years of age, 20 percent to those between 70-75 years, 18 percent to those aged 65-70 years, and 15 percent to those up to 65 years old.”
The Industries Minister said that orders to pay the entire arrears to the dependents of deceased pensioners and family pensioners were issued on March 13, 2024. He said that as the state's economic condition improves, the Congress government will provide further financial benefits to government employees. Chauhan said that the previous Jairam government provided 20,000 government jobs in five years, while the Congress government created 22,000 jobs in just one year.
He accused BJP leaders of being experts in lying and creating obstacles, mentioning that Himachal BJP leaders are pressuring the Union Government to delay the release of Rs 9000 crore of NPS funds and pressuring the Election Commission to stop the Rs 1500 pension for women. Chauhan demanded that BJP leaders apologize to the people of the state.