4% DA for employees, pensioners announced

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 16

Apart from announcing free text books for school students and sops to ex-servicemen, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced 4 per cent dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners of the state government to be paid from January 2019 onwards.

The Chief Minister made these announcements on the 73rd Independent Day from The Ridge. He said the present state government was striving for overall and inclusive development of the state and had framed a vision document ‘Drishtipatra Himachal Pradesh-2030’ to achieve development goals in a time-bound manner.

Thakur hoisted the national flag and took salute from the impressive march past commanded by DSP Pankaj Sharma which was presented by contingents of Police, Home Guards, NCC, scouts and guides and NSS cadets, including school children.

He announced fee-free entrance tests by the state public service commission and subordinate services selection board. The government school students of classes IX and X would get free text books that would benefit over 65,000 students of the state.

The Chief Minister enhanced financial assistance from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per annum for ex-servicemen, widows of ex-servicemen and their dependants above the years of 60 years. He increased the assistance from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 per month to fighters of second World War and from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 to the war widows.

The Chief Minister remembered the freedom fighters and paid homage to the martyred soldiers, who lost their lives while protecting the frontiers of the country. He also paid tributes to Dr YS Parmar, founder Chief Minister for laying a strong foundation for the future development of the state.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his benevolence and affection towards the state, the Chief Minister said that Himachal has got externally aided projects worth Rs 10,330 crore in the field of tourism development, agriculture, horticulture, water conservation and forestry, which would go a long way in accelerating the pace of development.

He cited his initiatives - Jan Manch, Him Pragti Portal, e-Samadhan, CM Monitoring and Quality Check Cell -- for good governance, saying they redressed 37,500 complaints of the people during Jan Manch. The Mukhya Mantri Helpline is being launched shortly to further facilitate the public.

He cited schemes like free gas connections to women, Rs 6,000 per annum assistance to farmers and natural farming scheme to double their income and social security pension and Himcare and Ayushman Bharat Yojana that have benefited the targeted groups.

The Investors Meet was being organised at Dharamsala on November 7 and 8 to attract investors. An investment worth Rs 85,000 crore is targeted to be achieved. Till date, MoUs worth Rs 38,000 crore have already been signed with various prospective investors, the Chief Minister pointed out.

Honoured on i-day

• The CM presented Himachal Gaurav Purskar to Nishad Kumar and Lt. Commander Pratibha Jamwal. He gave away Prarena Satrot Puraskars to Subedar Rinjin Dorje, Alikya and Himkara Organisation
• He presented Civil Services Award to HP State Disaster Management Authority to former Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Nanda
• The district-level disaster management authority awards went to Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts, which were received by the then Deputy Commissioners Yunus Khan and Ashwini Kumar, respectively