Solan
MLA Sanjay Awasthy has expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the state government for the decision to release a 5 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) to state government employees ahead of Diwali. He said the decision reflected the government’s commitment to prioritising the interests and welfare of its employees.
Sanjay Awasthy said that soon after coming to power, the Congress government had demonstrated its commitment to the social and economic security of employees by restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in its very first Cabinet meeting.
He said that despite cuts in financial assistance from the centre and various restrictions imposed by the union government, the state government was continuously making efforts to safeguard the interests of its employees.
He stated that the previous BJP government had refused to accept the employees’ demand for the restoration of the OPS. He said that former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had advised employees to contest elections if they wanted the OPS to be implemented. He further stated that employees had faced humiliating situations during public outreach programmes such as Jan Manch during the previous government’s tenure.
The MLA said that the restoration of the OPS was not aimed at securing political gains but was intended to ensure financial security and a dignified life for employees after retirement. He added that employees had devoted a significant part of their life to serving the state and that it was the government’s responsibility to safeguard their future.
Sanjay Awasthy said that the restoration of the OPS has resulted to the discontinuation of approximately Rs. 1,600 crore in form of financial assistance released by the central government to Himachal Pradesh. He stated that the state government was also being pressured to implement the Unified Pension Scheme.
“The Chief Minister will continue to uphold his commitment to the OPS, keeping employees’ interests and their dignified future a priority,” Sanjay Awasthy stated.
He reiterated that the state government was committed to the welfare of employees, ensuring their social security and protecting their economic interests. He further said that the decision to release the DA ahead of Diwali was another significant step in this direction
