DHARAMSHALA- Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced OPS for state corporations at 'Purani Pension Aabhar Rally' here .
He announced that the state government is giving old-age pension benefits to about 1.50 lakh employees.
This includes employees from the State Electricity Board and Corporations.
The Chief Minister asked employees to support the government in getting back their pension funds from the Union government.
He assured them that the government is committed to this cause.
The Chief Minister understands the challenges faced by employees because he comes from a family of government employees.
He said that restoring the old pension was one of the first things the government did to respect the employees. He thanked the employees for their contribution to the state's development.
Despite financial difficulties, the state government is determined to provide the old pension benefits. The Chief Minister asked for the return of pension funds amounting to Rs. 9,242.60 crore in a recent meeting.
He promised to fight for the employees' rights with their support.
The Chief Minister mentioned that when the government took charge, there was a shortage of funds. They are now working to make the state financially independent.
They want to boost the state's economy in the next four years. The budget focuses on increasing resources and completing important projects.
He requested employees to work efficiently as delayed projects slow down progress. The government aims to stop buying power from other states in two years.
They also want to promote environmentally friendly initiatives like green hydrogen and e-vehicles. The Chief Minister mentioned that they plan to replace diesel buses with e-buses in the next three years.
He also talked about the government's efforts to help orphans and widows. They have adopted 6,000 orphaned children and are supporting their education and well-being.
The government is providing financial assistance to widows for house construction. They have also introduced a monthly pension for women above 18 years of age.
The Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri, praised the employees for their hard work. He said that the government is committed to restoring the old pension, despite the financial challenges.
Agnihotri mentioned that other states, like Karnataka, have followed Himachal Pradesh's example and restored the old pension.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the employees and received flowers and donations during the rally. He visited a temple before attending the meeting.
