3 days on, debt-ridden Himachal govt fails to pay salaries to its employees, pensioners
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In an unprecedented turn of events, over 2 lakh employees and 1.5 lakh pensioners in Himachal Pradesh have yet to receive their salaries and pensions for the month, raising concerns across the state.
This delay, which extends to the third day of the month, is believed to be linked to the government’s decision to prioritise the repayment of interest on old loans over salary disbursements.
Sources said the state government had decided to release salaries on September 5, a delay that has stirred anxiety among employees and retirees alike.
For the first time in the state’s history, employees and pensioners have not received their dues on the 1st, a situation attributed to the ongoing financial crisis gripping the state.
Employees edgy, to raise issue with CM
The delay has prompted several employee organisations to plan meetings with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging him to expedite the payment process.
A member of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that many employees have taken loans from banks, with deductions scheduled between the 2nd and 5th of each month. “We will meet the CM today and request the immediate release of salaries,” Thakur stated.
Another employee group leader expressed concerns over the delayed payments. “We will raise this issue with the CM and request that salaries be paid as soon as possible,” he said.
Oppn seeks discussion in Assembly
The delay has left employees and pensioners in a state of uncertainty, with many anxiously awaiting the arrival of salary and pension messages on their phones. The frustration has led to a flurry of phone calls among employees, inquiring about updates on their payments. Despite today being the 3rd of the month, hopes for receiving salaries remain slim.
The issue has also caught the attention of the state’s political opposition, who demanded a discussion on the matter in the Assembly. However, when the Speaker was set to decide on the calling attention motion after the Question Hour, the opposition was absent from the House. It is anticipated that the issue will be raised again.
Debt mounts to Rs 94,000 crore
A member of the Pensioner Welfare Association-Shimla’s urban unit expressed disappointment, stating that this is the first time pensions have not been paid on the 1st of the month. “We have been waiting for two days, and we demand that the government release our pensions immediately,” he urged.
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Himachal Pradesh is currently grappling with a debt of approximately Rs 94,000 crore, with outstanding employee liabilities of Rs 10,000 crore. The majority of the state’s income is being allocated to salaries, pensions and debt repayments, while cuts in central funding have exacerbated the financial strain.
CM, ministers defer receiving salaries
In the midst of this economic crisis, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, along with Cabinet Ministers and Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS), have deferred their salaries for August and September, opting to receive these in October. CM Sukhu has asserted that this gesture will help stabilise the economy, though he has denied that the state is facing an economic crisis.
