Haryana allows payment of retirees’ dues, staff’s GPF withdrawal, medical reimbursement

Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 7 

In a relief to retirees and Haryana Government staff, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government allowed the payment of retirees’ dues, including general provident fund (GPF), gratuity, pension commutation and leave encashment on Thursday.

Besides, the Haryana Government staff has also been allowed conditional withdrawals from the GPF and medical reimbursement.

Through the new order, the BJP-JJP Government has taken a U-turn as these payments were virtually put on hold in the last two months in the view of the economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Hundreds of the bills of the serving government staff and those retiring in March and April were stuck in the state and district treasuries. The Additional Chief Secretary(Finance) has ordered the treasuries to clear these bills. However, all other bills will have to be cleared after the Finance Department’s approval.

Besides retirees’ mandatory dues, the withdrawal from GPF on account of marriage advance, higher education and purchase of plot/house will now be allowed besides payment of medical reimbursement for state government staff.

During his video-conferencing with employees’ representatives, Khattar had faced employees unions’ ire for putting on hold the above payments during the pandemic.

Subhash Lamba, president of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh (SKS), claimed that decision was the offshoot of relentless pressure mounted by the SKS on the state government.

“In view of economic distress faced by the employees due to coronavirus crisis, the state government should allow all GPF withdrawals and rollback decision on freezing DA and LTC,” Lamba added.

What staff, retirees will get:

*State treasuries will clear retirees’ bills relating to GPF, pension commutation, leave encashment and gratuity.

*Government staff can seek withdrawals for marriage advance, higher education and purchase of plot/house.

*Medical reimbursement bills also to be cleared.