On protest path, electricity board ex-employees to get OPS from Feb
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CM Sukhu makes announcement after a meeting with board union members
The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: In a significant development, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured protesting employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board that the old pension scheme (OPS) would be reinstated from February. The announcement came during a crucial meeting between the Chief Minister and representatives of the Electricity Board Engineers and Employees Joint Front at his official residence Oak Over.
During the meeting, CM Sukhu expressed his commitment to implementing the OPS, providing much-needed relief to the board’s employees. He stated that the employees would begin receiving their old pension starting February, marking a positive turn of events for the 6,600 workers associated with the board.
Heera Lal Verma, co-convener of the Electricity Board Engineers and Employees Joint Front, confirmed the Chief Minister’s assurance regarding the implementation of the old pension scheme. This announcement brings hope to the employees who have been protesting for the reinstatement of the OPS.
Moreover, the Chief Minister addressed the longstanding demand to appoint a permanent Managing Director (MD) for the electricity board. He assured the action committee that swift action would be taken, and a permanent MD would be appointed in the near future.
Following the meeting, Heera Lal Verma expressed confidence in the Chief Minister’s commitment to addressing the concerns of Electricity Board employees. Additionally, Verma highlighted the financial challenges faced by the Electricity Board, particularly in light of providing 125 units of free electricity to domestic consumers in the state.
He urged the government to consider the financial implications and proposed that employees were willing to forego this benefit to ensure timely salaries and the restoration of the old pension scheme. He said such a change would require adjustments to existing rules, but the employees were prepared to make the sacrifice for the greater stability of the electricity board.
