44K retired Himachal govt staff not paid gratuity: BJP

Dharamsala, January 17

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Ghanshyam Sharma, national senior vice-president of the pensioners wing of the BJP, today alleged that 44,000 retired employees had not been paid retirement benefits such as gratuity and leave encashment since 2016.

He said, “Recently, the Himachal High Court had ordered the government to pay the arrears of retirement benefits to its employees with an interest of 6 per cent per annum. Instead of implementing the court order, the government directed the officials concerned that they should go in appeal against the High Court order. The government has also warned the officials concerned against paying arrears to the employees.”

Sharma, while addressing mediapersons here, said, “The Congress had come to power by portraying itself as being pro-employees. We welcomed the decision of the government to implement the old pension scheme (OPS) for its employees covered under the NPS. However, due to bad governance, the financial condition of the state has deteriorated to such an extent that the government is finding it difficult to pay even salaries and retirement benefits such as gratuity and leave encashment to its employees on time. Retirement benefits are the right of the employees, who had served the government for decades. By denying them their right, the Congress government is victimising them.”