31% DA for Himachal Pradesh staff , free 60 units for power consumers

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 25

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today announced 31 per cent DA for the state employees on the occasion of 52nd Statehood Day celebrated at the historic Thodo ground here.

Eligible constables to get new pay scales

• Annual income for availing of the benefits of various welfare schemes raised from the existing Rs35,000 to Rs50,000.
• Police constables appointed after 2015 to get higher scales immediately.
• Domestic power consumers not to pay any charge for up to 60 units. For consumption up to 125 units, consumers to pay only one rupee per unit.
• For farmers, the per unit cost of electricity reduced from 50 paise to 30 paise.

He said, “My government had recently announced new pay scales, which would benefit 2.25 lakh employees and cost the state exchequer Rs 6,000 crore. Some discrepancies, however, existed in the new scales. To ensure optimum gains to all employees, I announce another option for them, besides two existing ones. However, if any section of employees is still unable to reap optimum benefits of the new pay scales, we can decide to rethink on them”.

Thakur unfurled the National Flag and took the salute from the contingents of police, IRB Jungalberi, Home Guard jawans and NCC girls etc. Probationer DSP Pranav Chauhan commanded the parade.

Thakur announced that the pensioners of the state government would also be given pension as per the new pay scales of the Punjab Government. This would benefit about 1.75 lakh pensioners to the tune of about Rs 2,000 crore. He also announced 31 per cent DA to all employees of the state on a par with the Central Government employees, which would provide financial benefits of Rs 500 crore.

He also announced increase in the annual income for availing of the benefits of various welfare schemes from the existing Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 and the benefits of higher scales on an immediate basis to all eligible police constables. The constables who were appointed after 2015 would be eligible for the higher scale, as are the employees of other categories.

The Chief Minister gave relief to domestic power consumers and announced nil charges for monthly consumption of up to 60 units. Those consuming electricity up to 125 units would be charged only one rupee per unit. This decision would benefit over 11 lakh domestic consumers and cost Rs 60 crore to the state exchequer. He also announced reduction in the per unit cost of electricity from 50 paise to 30 paise for farmers. This benefit would be applicable from April 2022.

Thakur said that the day also marked the closing ceremony of the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee year of the statehood of Himachal Pradesh. He paid rich tributes to the founder and first Chief Minister of the state, Dr YS Parmar.

He said, “Himachal has made unparallel strides in all spheres. In 1971, the per capita income of the state was only Rs 651, which has increased to Rs 183,286. The GDP of the state has risen from Rs 223 crore in 1971 to Rs 156,522 crore”.

Thakur said that the literacy rate had gone up to 82.80 per cent from 23 per cent in 1971. The agriculture production in the state had increased from 954 MT to 1,500 metric tonnes and the foodgrain production from 9.40 lakh MT in 1971 to 16.74 lakh MT.

He said that 3,108 km of roads and 240 bridges had been constructed and 321 villages had been provided road connectivity in the past four years of his government. Besides, 10 SDM offices had been opened. There were 2,062 gram panchayats in 1971 and the number now stands at 3,615. The government had created 412 new panchayats.

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