Shimla, August 15: On Saturday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhu announced the opening of 100 new CBSE schools during the state-level Independence Day celebrations held in Hamirpur district. He also declared the release of ₹281 crore in pending payments to employees. The Chief Minister hoisted the national flag and reviewed a parade led by Commander Pranav Chauhan.
The parade featured contingents from the state police, the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) from Dhoulakuan and Pandoh, Hamirpur district police, Haryana police, women police, home guards, and traffic police.
During the event, the Chief Minister announced that Class-4 employees would receive an additional ₹20,000 this month as pending salary. He also stated that retired Class-3 pensioners and family pensioners from 2016 to 2021 would receive an extra 35% of their pending pensions this month.
Similarly, Class-1 and Class-2 pensioners and their families will receive 15% of their pending pensions for the same period. The government plans to spend ₹281 crore for these pending payments.
Sukhu also announced the establishment of 100 new CBSE schools across the state for the upcoming academic session. He mentioned that doctors retiring from this month until March 31, 2027, would now retire on March 31 of the following year.
The Chief Minister revealed that the monthly incentive for 9,000 ASHA workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) would increase from ₹5,800 to ₹6,800. Additionally, NHM employees who have completed seven years of service after salary restructuring will benefit from revised salaries starting April 1.
Moreover, in line with the budget announcement, the monthly remuneration for outsourced staff nurses, pharmacists, operation theater assistants, and lab technicians under NHM will be raised to ₹25,000, while data entry operators will receive ₹18,000 per month. This revised pay will take effect from September 1.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to fill 4,000 positions in various categories within the Water Power Department. He emphasized the significant contributions of government employees and pensioners to the state’s development, assuring that the government is committed to protecting their interests.
Sukhu stated, “We have reinstated the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees under the National Pension System (NPS) and are providing them with additional benefits.” He expressed sensitivity towards the issues faced by multi-task workers and outsourced employees, indicating that the government is considering a policy to address their concerns.
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