Sukhu Reaches Out to Disgruntled Babus on independence Day
SHIMLA, August 15: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu used his Independence Day address at Badsar to ensure a growing section of government employees and pensioners that they would get their dues, announcing a fresh package of arrears, salary revisions, recruitment and welfare measures.
With this being his second-last Independence Day celebration of the current tenure, the Chief Minister sought to balance financial constraints with a string of announcements aimed at employees, pensioners, ASHA workers, outsourced staff and other sections that have been voicing discontent over their dues and service conditions.
Sukhu announced an additional Rs. 20,000 towards salary arrears for Class-IV employees, while Class-III pensioners and family pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2021 will receive 35 percent of their pension arrears, and Class-I and II pensioners will get 15 percent, with the government earmarking Rs. 281 crore for the payments.
The Chief Minister also announced 4,000 new posts in the Jal Shakti Vibhag, a revised monthly incentive for around 9,000 ASHA workers from Rs. 5,800 to Rs. 6,800, and revised remuneration for outsourced NHM staff.
Staff Nurses, Pharmacists, OTAs and Laboratory Technicians will get Rs. 25,000 a month and Data Entry Operators Rs. 18,000 from September 1.
Sukhu made a carefully worded outreach to Multi-Task Workers and outsourced employees, saying the government was examining all aspects of their concerns and considering a policy to provide them appropriate benefits.
He also sought to reconnect with the younger generation, making a special appeal to Gen Z and claiming that transparent, merit-based recruitment remained a priority of his government. He contrasted his record with the previous BJP regime over the police recruitment paper leak and alleged irregularities in the former Staff Selection Commission.
The Chief Minister simultaneously unveiled two major welfare initiatives. ‘Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar’ will begin from October 2 for 1.80 lakh economically vulnerable families identified through an eight-phase survey, while the Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana will be piloted in 21 ICDS blocks to improve nutrition for mothers and children.
The government also announced Rs. 150 crore over two years for milk-processing infrastructure in seven districts, alongside the completion of the Rs. 250-crore, 1.5-lakh-litre-per-day milk plant at Daghwar in Kangra.
The measures are aimed at creating stronger rural livelihoods and raising family incomes to Rs. 20,000–25,000 a month in villages.
Sukhu used the occasion to defend his government’s handling of the state’s finances, asserting that Himachal had weathered the withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant and was now moving towards financial self-reliance.
He reiterated the state’s claims relating to the Bhakra project, Shanan, Bairasul, water cess and Chandigarh, saying his government would not compromise on Himachal’s legitimate rights.
On the social front, he announced the second phase of the Chitta-Mukt Himachal Abhiyan from Una on September 7 and promised a new ‘Khelo Himachal, Chitta-Mukt Abhiyan’ to channel youth towards sports.
Healthcare and education also figured prominently in the address. Sukhu announced 100 new CBSE schools, overseas exposure visits for meritorious students, teachers and doctors, and highlighted the introduction of robotic surgery facilities at state medical colleges and AIMSS Chamiyana at substantially lower costs than private hospitals.
The Chief Minister also announced that doctors due to retire between August 15, 2026 and March 31, 2027 would continue in service until March 31, 2027.
At the same function, Sukhu distributed over Rs. 20.61 crore to 4,967 construction workers and their families under various welfare schemes.
He also honoured retired Senior Medical Officer Dr. Rajendra Kanwar, who has donated movable and immovable property worth over Rs. 80 crore to Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College and Hospital, Hamirpur.
The Barsar address therefore went beyond a conventional Independence Day speech.
Sukhu attempted to address employee anger, pensioner arrears, youth frustration and rural economic anxieties, while simultaneously projecting his government’s welfare agenda and financial-management credentials ahead of the remaining political stretch of its tenure.
But question remains when they will get their dues?
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