Himachal Pradesh Employees News: There is a standoff between the government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Secretariat Employees Federation in Himachal Pradesh. The Secretariat Services Employees Federation has made it clear to the state government that they will continue their protest until the government releases the pending DA and arrears.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held with Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation and Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Services Union at the State Secretariat. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu listened to the demands of the employees and assured to fulfill them soon.
Central government has Rs 9200 crore of NPS
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that Rs 9,200 crore of NPS is stuck with the central government. Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned by the central government for disaster relief, but this amount has also not been released yet.
The state government has inherited liabilities of Rs 10 thousand crore of employees from the previous BJP government. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that after restoring the Old Pension Scheme in the state, the central government has imposed many restrictions on the state government. The loan limit of the state government has been fixed at Rs 6 thousand 600 crore. A revenue deficit grant of Rs 3 thousand 500 crore will be received for the next financial year, while this amount is Rs 7 thousand crore less than the amount received by the previous BJP government.
What is the current financial situation of Himachal?
Let us tell you that 42 percent of the budget is being spent on salaries and pensions in Himachal Pradesh. Only 28 percent of the budget is left for capital expenditure in the state. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that in this financial year, out of every Rs 100, Rs 25 is spent on salary, Rs 17 on pension, Rs 11 on interest, Rs 9 on loan repayment, Rs 10 on grants to autonomous institutions and the remaining Rs 28 is being spent on capital expenditure along with other activities.
The revenue deficit grant given to Himachal Pradesh has also reduced. In the financial year 2021-22, the state government used to get Rs 10 thousand crore as grant, whereas in the financial year 2025-26 this grant will be reduced to three thousand crore rupees.