Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over a program Ek Sham Kullu ke Karamchariyon ke naam at Mohal in Kullu district today. On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that employees are playing a vital role in implementing the policies and programs of the government and the State Government has always been committed to fulfil the genuine demands of the employees.
During the last four and half years, the state government has resolved issues and fulfilled many pending demands of the employees, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has provided benefits worth Rs. 3500 crore to the employees and pensioners through revised pay scales and pension.
He said that the first instalment of arrears of revised pay scale has been announced to the employees and pensioners from 1st January, 2016. About 2.25 lakh employees and 1.90 lakh pensioners of the state would be benefitted with worth one thousand crore rupees.
He said that 4000 employees working under Zila Parishad cadre in Panchayati Raj Department would also be provided revised pay scales. He said that the State Government has reduced the contract period for the regularization of contract employees from three to two years.
Jai Ram Thakur said that to protect the interests of the daily wagers the present State Government in its tenure has increased the daily wages by Rs. 140. In the year 2017, the daily wages was Rs. 210, which has been increased to Rs. 350 by the present state government.Similarly, other categories have also been given appropriate benefits.
He said that revised pension was also being provided to the pensioners of the state.Chief Minister said that the State Cabinet in its meeting held recently gave approval for revision of rates/entitlement/limit of the House Building Advance in respect of State Government employees.
The maximum of HBA would be 25 times of the basic pay subject to maximum of Rs. 15 lakh or the cost of the house or repaying capacity whichever is the least for new construction/purchase of new house/flat.
He said that the State Government has also decided to provide immediate ex-gratia grant of minimum of Rs. 55000 and maximum Rs. 1.50 lakh to family of the regular employees and minimum of Rs. 35000 and maximum of one lakh rupees to the family of contract employees in the event of death of the employees.
Chief Minister said that the State Government has provided revised pay scales to its employees from January 1, 2016 resulting in an average increase of 12 to 15 percent in the salary of each employee.
NPS contribution has also been increased from 10 per cent to 14 per cent to benefit more than one lakh NPS employees of the state, he added. NPS employees have also been provided with the same death cum retirement gratuity benefits as of OPS employees.
He said that the State Government had increased the upper limit of gratuity from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 lakh.The Chief Minister announced Rs. 1.50 crore for construction of housing colony and Rs. 25 Lakh for construction of Rest House at NGO bhawan Kullu.
Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur said that keeping in view the important contribution of the employees in the democratic system, their grievances and demands have been the priority of the government.
He said that the state government has always been considerate towards the genuine demands of the employees. He appreciated the services provided by the employees during the Covid-19 pandemic.
President of NGO Federation Ashwani Thakur said that during the tenure of present State Government top priority was accorded to resolve the grievance of the employees. Vice President, Employees Welfare Board Ghanshyam Sharma said that despite the financial crisis during the Corona period, the State Government has given financial benefits to its employees, pensioners and labourers on time.
State General Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Union, Rajesh Sharma detailed about the facilities being provided by the state government to the employees.Earlier President Non-Gazetted Employees Union Kullu Ashu Goel welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
MLAs Kishori Lal and Surender Shouri, former MP Maheshwar Singh, Brig. Khushal Thakur, Vice President HPMC Ram Singh, Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg, Superintendent of Police Gurdev Chand Sharma, state and district level officials of Non-Gazetted Employees Federation were also present on the occasion.