SHIMLA: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected office bearers of the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Services Employees Organization.

He emphasized the crucial role played by State Secretariat employees in implementing government policies and programs.

Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted measures taken to improve the state's economy, including the reinstatement of the old pension scheme benefiting 1.36 lakh state employees.

He emphasized the decision's consideration for employees' welfare and dignified post-retirement lives.

Addressing the demands of the organization, the Chief Minister assured that the government would seriously consider all employee demands, including the installment of dearness allowance and a potential shift to a five-day work week.

Sukhu also discussed upcoming schemes to strengthen the rural economy, seeking the support of employees for successful implementation.

He acknowledged the employees' efforts, citing examples such as the Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana for orphan children and the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme.

The Chief Minister touched upon the recent disaster's aftermath, mentioning efforts to aid affected families and increased financial assistance for damaged houses.

He expressed concern over the state's financial challenges, citing a debt of Rs. 75,000 crore due to the former BJP government's financial mismanagement.

Despite facing opposition for tough decisions aimed at economic recovery, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized that these decisions were made for the state's overall welfare.

The ceremony included the oath-taking of the newly elected executive, with Sanjeev Sharma as President.

In attendance were Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ashish Butail, MLA Harish Janartha, Bhawani Singh Pathania, Neeraj Nayyar, Sudarshan Bablu, Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, and Principal Secretary Bharat Khera.