Shimla: Despite the severe financial strain imposed by the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress has now pledged to implement the same scheme in Haryana if it wins the upcoming Assembly elections.
The promise, part of the party’s manifesto released on Wednesday, has sparked widespread debate given Himachal Pradesh’s ongoing struggles to manage the financial burden of the scheme.
In Himachal Pradesh, the reinstatement of OPS has created significant financial challenges. The state currently has around 1.75 lakh employees and over 1.9 lakh pensioners. The financial implications of the OPS are high, with estimates suggesting that it could cost the state government approximately Rs 10,000 crore annually over the time. The figure is expected to rise as more employees retire under the OPS.
Salaries, pensions delayed for first time ever
Already, Himachal is struggling to pay salaries and pensions on time. The cash-strapped government this time, for the first time in Himachal’s history, paid salaries on the fifth of month instead of the first day.
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The pensions came even later on the 10th day, leading to resentment among employees and pensioners.
In the midst of these challenges, the Congress party has included the restoration of OPS as a key promise in its Haryana election manifesto.
Implications to be more in Haryana
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, during the manifesto release at the party headquarters, emphasised the party’s commitment to social security, which includes the reintroduction of OPS. The financial implications could be more in Haryana as the state has higher number of employees and pensioners compared to Himachal.
The Congress manifesto also promises a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, monthly financial aid for women, free electricity and enhanced healthcare facilities.
However, critics argue that the situation in Himachal Pradesh serves as a cautionary tale. The financial difficulties experienced by Himachal have raised questions about the viability of reintroducing OPS in Haryana, where the economic conditions are different but could potentially face similar challenges.
