Saini govt's balancing act on welfare measures

The past fortnight saw the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government take some “tough” decisions, whether it was the hike in power tariff, which was opposed by industrialists and traders, Cabinet nod to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which has not gone down well with the employees, or the hike in rates of mustard oil meant for the Below Poverty Line beneficiaries, making the Opposition see red.

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The nod to the UPS has triggered discontent among government employees, pushing for a return to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), even as they gear up for a strike on July 9. Similarly, the increase in mustard oil prices under the Public Distribution System (PDS) has raised concerns among economically weaker sections relying on subsidised food items.

The recent power tariff hike has added to public dissatisfaction, with domestic and industrial consumers now forced to pay increased per unit rates and fixed charges. Critics argue that the move burdens middle-class families and small businesses, even as the government justifies it as necessary for covering rising electricity costs and improving power infrastructure efficiency. The Chief Minister has announced a 5% salary increase for employees working under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN).

While these decisions may have raised the hackles of the public, the employees and the Opposition alike, said the government was doling out “sops” to take the edge off some “harsh” decisions it is rolling out.

Among the “sops” is the revision of salary by 5% for part-time and daily wage workers under the HKRN, and the enhancement of marriage assistance for daughters of poor families — moves that resonate in rural and lower-income urban areas. The announcement of results for Group-D government job recruitment has also injected optimism among job aspirants, even as the government tom-toms its merit-based “bina kharchi, bina parchi” appointments in government jobs.

Another particularly notable step with working women as its main audience, the Saini government has granted two-day casual leave per month to contractual women employees, subject to maximum of 22 days in a calendar year, instead of 10 days during a calendar year. It has been welcomed by women employees, even as it sets a precedent for extending similar rights to temporary staff who are often excluded from such benefits.

The media adviser to the CM, Parveen Attrey, says, “Our strategy is simple — uplift of the poor. These steps where minimal hikes have been announced in power tariff and mustard oil were necessary, and it has happened after many years. The government can only raise the standard of the economically backward if it has sound financial health. Welfare is directly linked to good fiscal health. The government is thinking and formulating policies for all sections of society.”

“Together, these decisions reflect a dual-purpose strategy: to ease discontent arising from contentious decisions that are anti-public and anti-employees, while reinforcing the image of a welfare-focused administration. The government has been exposed and public anger is only growing. The government cannot increase 5% salary of HKRN employees after seven years, and think it will be seen as pro-employees,” says Subhash Lamba, president of the All-India State Government Employees Federation.