Poll bonanza for govt employees: CM Jai Ram Thakur announces 31 pc DA on Himachal Day

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 25

In a bid to placate the employees ahead of Assembly polls slated to take place at this year end, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday announced 31 per cent DA for the state employees.

The announcement was made the occasion of the state level 50th statehood day being celebrated at Thodo ground here.

The Chief Minsiter said: "My government has recently announced new pay scale, which will benefit 2,25,000 employees while putting a monetary burden of Rs 6,000 crore to the state exchequer. Employees have started giving their options for the same but it has been brought to my notice that some anomalies existed in the new scale, which will deny them its optimum gain. So apart from the two options, I announce another one so that no employee is bereft of optimum gains of the new pay scale. Also, if any section of employees is unable to reap the benefits of the new pay scale, we can take a decision to re-think on it."

The CM also announced that 1,75,000 pensioners will be granted pension on the Punjab pattern which will put a monetary burden of Rs 2,000 crore on the state exchequer.

"My government recently announced 28 per cent DA on the new pay scale and today I announce 31 per cent DA for the state government employees, which will put a monetary burden of Rs 500 crore on the state exchequer annually."

While elaborating on the developmental initiatives, he said the financial eligibility of various social welfare schemes has been enhanced from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 and this will benefit socially and economically weaker sections. About a lakh additional beneficiaries from the poorer section will receive Rs 125 crore through this announcement.

In a bid to placate the constable who had raised a banner of revolt, he also announced that constables who have become eligible for pre-revised higher scales would be immediately given so. Detailed directions would soon be issued for its implementation.

The CM spared no effort to make the most of this statehood day to appease various sections of the society.

He also announced 60 units free power per month to low income group families and domestic users having power utilisation of 125 units per month would be given power at Re 1 per month . This will benefit 11 lakh users and will strain the exchequer by 60 crore annually. Farmers would get power at 30 paise per unit instead of 50 paise per unit and it will be applicable from April 2022.

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