Sukhu cabinet nod to OPS

Shimla: The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh today decided to implement the Old apensionnScheme (OPS ) to all NPS employees of the hill state.This will benefit over 1.36 lakh NPS staffers.

Speaking to reporters here Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said OPS was one of the ten Guarantees given by the Congress Party during the recently concluded Vidhan Sabha elections.

He said a Cabinet Sub Committee has been constituted to finalise the roadmap for implementation of the promises made by the Congress Party during the elections for creating one lakh jobs.

This Cabinet Sub Committee will comprise of Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and Education Minister Rohit Thakur.  

Another Cabinet Sub Committee has also been constituted for finalising the roadmap for implementation of the promises made by the Congress Party during the elections for granting Rs 1500 to the women in the age group of 18 to 60 years.

He said that this Cabinet Sub Committee will comprise of  Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh. Both these sub committees will submit their reports within a month.

Sukhu accused the previous BJP Government for a heavy debt trap of over Rs 75000 crore.

His government has inherited financial liabilities of Rs 4430 crore as salary arrears to its employees and Rs. 5226 crore has liabilities of pensioners as pension arrears.Also liabilities of Rs. 1000 crore as DA of employees and pensioners.

“In this way the previous State Government has left total financial burden of Rs. 11,000 crore on the state exchequer, ” he added.

“The Central Government has over Rs. 8000 crore as share of NPS employees. Despite all these odds my government has decided to provide old pension scheme to NPS employees.”

Sukhu also accused the BJP Government in the fag-end of its tenure announced opening and upgradation of about 900 institutions with an eye on the general elections.

He said all these institutions were opened and upgraded with a sole motive to woo voters without any budget provision and irrational thinking.

“We have decided to wind up such institutions and all these would be reviewed and if found to be viable and required would be opened after making proper budgetary provisions. This would require another Rs. 5000 crore if all these institutions were to be made functional, ” Sukhu added.