The Himachal Pradesh government has announced that pensioners aged 75 and older will receive their September pensions along with pending arrears. This initiative will benefit around 30,000 senior citizens across the state. Principal Secretary of Finance, Devesh Kumar, issued an order on August 28, although delays in completing the necessary formalities postponed the disbursement by a month.
The arrears date back to a pension revision implemented in January 2016, when a new pay scale was introduced. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had previously announced during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 that 50% of the remaining arrears would be distributed to senior pensioners. So far, 55% of the total arrears have been paid, leaving 45% outstanding. This month, pensioners will receive 22.5% of the total arrears, with the remaining amount to be disbursed later.
While pensioners are expected to receive their payments, a delay similar to previous months may occur. The pensions and arrears are anticipated to be credited by September 10. In contrast, government employees are set to receive their salaries by September 5, aligning with the state’s financial discipline initiatives. Last month, salaries were also issued on the 5th, and pensions on the 10th, part of a strategy aimed at saving ₹3 crore in interest under the state’s fiscal policies.
