Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announced various financial incentives to the State employees in the Joint Consultative Committee Meeting held here under his chairmanship today. He announced release of 5th Pay Commission Recommendation pay arrears due to the State employees. He said that out of the total of Rs. 825 crore arrears due, 50 percent, (Rs. 412.50 crore) would be released to the employees and pensioners immediately in cash and while remaining 50 percent would be deposited into their GPF accounts. He announced increase in the Capital Allowance from Rs. 175 to Rs. 275 per month; double increment to the employees adopting permanent family planning modes after birth of two girl child. He announced to double House Rent Allowance based upon the existing slab system to the employees in the State. He said that Employees Welfare Board would also be constituted on priority. Referring to the demand of employees for higher medical allowance, he said that the State Government would explore possibilities by taking this matter with some insurance company so that employees get better option. The State Government would also consider relaxing mandatory conditions in promotions from class IV to Class III under Limited Direct Recruitment Policy.
Chief Minister reiterated the resolve of the State Government to protect interests of its employees which were backbone of the government. He said that the State Government had been considerately sympathetic towards the genuine demands of its employees and had provided them record financial benefits worth Rs. 5,568.95 crore during past four years. He said that State had been among the front runner States of the country in implementation of the Pay Commission Recommendations and had released 20 percent as interim relief soon after taking over the reign of the administration whereas the previous government could not make the payment of five percent interim relief for which provision existed in the budget.
He said that the State Government had increased the daily wages from Rs. 75 to Rs. 120 benefiting each labourer by Rs. 16,425 per annum. He said that the regularization process of daily wage employees was also being ensured on completion of eight years of service and fixed 31st March of each financial year as cut off date and thousands of daily wagers had been regularized in different departments. He said that in addition to the financial incentives, over 20 thousand had been granted promotion while over 25 thousand provided government employment. He said that the State Government had been liberal towards the financial grants under different heads to its employees and had provided Rs. 92.34 crore to reimburse medical bills of the employees during current financial year He said that Recruitment and Promotion Rules of different categories of the employees had also been framed during the period under reference.
Prof. Dhumal appealed to the employees to take benefit of e-Samadhan system, modern technology of information, for efficient and transparent delivery of the services. He said that the State had launched crusade against corruption wherein employees need to play pro-active role. He said that employees had been indispensable vital organ of the government which had been instrumental in successful implementation of the policies and programmes of the State in every nook and corner despite various constraints and making Himachal Pradesh a role model in the country. He said that it had been possible due to the dedicated services of the employees that the State had won record 53 awards at national level during past four years. He appealed to the employees to re-dedicate themselves towards the speedy development of the State and rise to the call of any aggrieved by delivery of efficient services to them.
It was decided that the State Government would consider arranging soft loan to the wards of the state employees undertaking vocational courses in higher educational institutions. Functional posts in different department to be filled up on priority. All pending financial liabilities to be cleared on priority. Uniform Policy to be adopted for ad-hoc, contractual, daily wager, part time and others working under different societies. Extra-Ordinary Leave to be restored. TA and Medical Bills to be cleared within current financial year. Separate Legal Cadre to be created on the analogy of SAS.
Chief Secretary Rajwant Sandhu said that the State had always been liberal and sympathetic towards genuine demands of its employees and adopted open door policy to discuss such matter to resolve the same amicably. She said that all pending issues would also be resolved in consultation of the NGO leaders. Manisha Nanda, Principal Secretary (Personnel), welcomed the Chief Minister and said that it was 4th Joint Consultative Committee meeting being held with the employees. She said that various rounds of meeting had already taken place at the level of Chief Secretary with the leaders of NGOs.
Surender Thakur, President, NGO Mahasangh, thanked Chief Minister for providing record benefit of about Rs. 5,600 crore during past four years to about 2.70 lakh employees of the State. He apprised the Chief Minister of various pressing demands of the state employees. Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Special Secretaries, Heads of the Departments, Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Onkar Sharma, senior officers of various departments and leaders of various departmental organizations were present in the meeting.
