Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced significant welfare measures for state retirees during a public address in Dehra, Kangra district. According to reports from PTI, the CM assured that the government is committed to the welfare of employees and pensioners, with full arrears, leave encashment and gratuity paid to pensioners aged above 67 years. Additionally, Class-IV employees who retired between 1 January 2016, and 31 January 2022, would receive an additional ₹20,000 over and above their salary arrears. Speaking to mediapersons, Sukhu emphasized that these decisions had been made possible due to the financial prudence, fiscal discipline and responsible financial management of the state government.
The CM announced that directions would be issued to remove the condition related to basic pay for Class-I, Class-II and Class-III pensioners. As reported by PTI, following this removal, all eligible pensioners would be paid 35% of their pending arrears. With this payment, a total of 57% of the employees' arrears would be cleared. Sukhu also assured that Dearness Allowance (DA) will be provided in due course to all eligible beneficiaries. The CM stated that the Congress government is committed to the welfare of employees and pensioners, while the BJP is merely indulging in politics in the name of employees and pensioners.
Chief Minister Sukhu announced that the state government is working to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic services at all medical colleges in the state. According to PTI, modern equipment worth around ₹500 crore is being installed at these medical colleges. The CM noted that such advanced machines are currently available only at AIIMS in Delhi, with similar facilities not yet available even at AIIMS Bilaspur or in cities such as Ludhiana and Jalandhar. He emphasized that the installation of modern technology and equipment at medical colleges would strengthen diagnostic services and make them more accurate, enabling people to receive the right treatment without delay. The government is also appointing specialist doctors at all 70 Adarsh Medical Institutions, with plans to recruit 300 medical officers, 200 specialist doctors and 150 super-specialist doctors.
CM Sukhu outlined several flagship infrastructure projects for Dehra, including plans to lay underground utility ducts similar to those in Shimla. According to PTI, the CM also announced the release of an additional ₹100 crore for the ₹619 crore international-level Bankhandi Zoological Park. He assured that ongoing drinking water projects worth ₹100 crore, including an ozone-based water system, will be completed within a year. Additionally, a high-end ultrasound machine will be installed at Dehra Hospital to enhance medical facilities in the region. To address long-pending social issues, housing land has already been allotted to 200 Pong Dam displaced families, with remaining eligible families set to be covered in phases.
Beyond retiree benefits, Sukhu distributed cheques of financial assistance of ₹3,500 each to 800 fishermen under the 'Mukhyamantri Machhuaara Samman Nidhi' Yojana. According to PTI, these financial assistance amounts were transferred directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. The CM also highlighted that the royalty fee on fish in the state has been drastically reduced from 15% to just 1%. Earlier in July, Sukhu had stated that the state is reviewing DA and pending arrears for state employees and pensioners following a high-level Finance Department meeting. He noted that the Centre withheld financial assistance of ₹1,200 crore due to the state, which would have enabled clearing employees' pending arrears. Speaking to mediapersons, Sukhu lashed out at the previous BJP government for leaving Himachal burdened with massive debt. He stated that when the Congress came to power and he assumed the office of CM, the state was carrying a debt of ₹76,707 crore, with the previous government having left behind liabilities worth around ₹10,000 crore related to employees.
