Ensuring the financial security of retired employees of the state's Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced that the pensions for these employees will be disbursed directly into their bank accounts before the 10th of every month. This move is expected to benefit over 3,000 pensioners, ensuring they receive their dues in a timely and predictable manner.
In a further move to support these employees, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has also approved the disbursement of pending arrears for Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti employees and pensioners, soon in four installments as per the policy approved by the Finance Department. These arrears will be paid in accordance with the policy framework already established for Punjab Government employees, thereby ensuring parity and fairness in financial treatment across departments.
This decision aligns with the Punjab Cabinet's approval in February 2025 to release arrears worth Rs 14,000 crore to government employees and pensioners. The approved include revised pay, pensions, and leave encashment from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2022, and dearness allowance from July 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024.
This substantial amount is being disbursed in stages, providing much-needed relief to employees and pensioners. The Finance Minister announced these decisions during a high-level meeting with Ajit Balaji Joshi, Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, and other department officials.
The meeting also served as a platform to deliberate on other finance-related matters concerning the Rural Development and Panchayat Department. Finance Minister Cheema reiterated the AAP-led Punjab Government’s commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline, and the welfare of its workforce, emphasising that such decisions reflect the state government’s resolve to uphold the dignity and rights of its employees, both serving and retired.