Agnihotri assures Jal Shakti staffers on regularisation

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri assured that all genuine demands of the State Jal Shakti Department Employees Federation would be addressed, reiterating the state government’s commitment to employee welfare despite severe financial constraints.

Addressing a joint conference of junior field-level employees of the Jal Shakti Department in Haroli, Agnihotri, who also holds the Jal Shakti portfolio, said the department was moving towards permanent and systematic recruitment to ensure employees are covered under pension benefits. He said 419 compassionate appointments are currently being made in the department.

Representatives of various employee federations, including ITI-trained pump operators, para pump operators, para fitters, water guards and para multipurpose employees, apprised the Deputy Chief Minister of their demands related to regularisation, promotions, pension coverage, cadre-specific policies and duty arrangements.

Agnihotri said the state government was open to framing new policies wherever required in the interest of employees and was also seriously reviewing the utility and appropriateness of the outsourcing system.

Highlighting the financial challenges faced by the state, he said the Union government has not yet released Rs 1,250 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Despite this, the state government is paying salaries of Jal Shakti Department employees from its own resources. He further pointed out that while Himachal Pradesh received around Rs 38,000 crore as Revenue Deficit Grant from the Centre over the past five years, the grant has now been abruptly discontinued, adding to fiscal stress.