Himachal Pradesh: Congress fulfills key poll promise, restores Old Pension Scheme for 1.36 lakh employees

Shimla: The just over a month old Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on Friday fulfilled a key poll promise, with the Cabinet, at its first meeting, deciding to provide the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to all government employees, covered under the defined contributory pension scheme or National Pension System (NPS), on the pattern of party-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. This will benefit about 1.36 lakh NPS employees, an official statement said. The Cabinet also decided to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee for finalising the roadmap for implementation of its poll promises -- creating one lakh employment opportunities and granting Rs 1,500 to all women in the age group of 18 to 60 years.

Presided over by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution thanking the people of the state for reposing faith and confidence in the policies and programs of the party.

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It expressed gratitude to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi for their dynamic leadership that resulted in the victory of the party in the recent Assembly elections.

कांग्रेस की विचारधारा प्यार, भाईचारे और सच्चाई की मिसाल है। आज लोहडी के शुभ अवसर पर मुझे हिमाचल के कर्मचारियों की लंबित मांग OPS को बहाल करते हुए बहुत खुशी हो रही है। मुझे पूर्ण विश्वास है कि कर्मचारी सरकार के साथ कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर हिमाचल के विकास मे अपना पूर्ण सहयोग देंगे । pic.twitter.com/eIt2btE4wE — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) January 13, 2023

The Cabinet decided to adopt an election manifesto of the party as a policy document of the government and all ministers, secretaries and heads of the departments will implement it, said the statement.