There was great jubilation after Congress restores Old Pension Scheme in Himachal Pradesh keeping their election promise.
The scrapping of the Old Pension Scheme by the BJP and the following demand from the people for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme was a major issue in Himachal Pradesh. The Congress had promised to bring the Old Pension Scheme back if it won the election. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu brought it back as promised.
The Congress government in Himachal kept their election promise and on Friday announced they would restore the old pension scheme in the first Cabinet meeting of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. This was the biggest demand of government employees during the elections, which the Congress leaders had promised to fulfill.
Scenes from Himachal Pradesh after Congress Government implemented Old Pension Scheme. Pro-People Governance is the hallmark of Congress.
Scenes from Himachal Pradesh after Congress Government implemented Old Pension Scheme.
Pro People Governance is the hallmark of Congress. pic.twitter.com/k6KhgRfHG0
— Anshuman Sail (@AnshumanSail) January 13, 2023
Great celebrations going on and Congress Sevadal tweets, “Best wishes to all the people of Himachal Pradesh on the implementation of old pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh.
Whatever the Congress promises, it fulfills.”
Best wishes to all the people of Himachal Pradesh on the implementation of old pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh.
Whatever the Congress promises, it fulfills. #Congress pic.twitter.com/mLWqjjGJNK— Hyderabad Congress Sevadal (@SevadalHYD) January 13, 2023
This scheme, under which government employees received all their pension payments from the government. Employees with 20 years of service would receive 50% of their last drawn salary as a pension. This was discontinued in India on April 1, 2004.
Under the New Pension Scheme (NPS), employees contribute 10% of their salary towards their retirement payment, while the government contributes 14%. Employees who joined government service On or after January 1, 2004, were covered under the New Pension Scheme.
After winning the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election last month, Sukhu said: “We’ve given 10 guarantees and we will implement them. We will give transparent and honest government. We will implement OPS (Old Pension Scheme) in the first cabinet meeting.”
Ahead of the meeting, Sukhu on Thursday stated: “We are not restoring the Old Pension Scheme for votes but to give social security and safeguard the self-respect of the employees who have scripted the history of Himachal’s development.” He was addressing state government employees at the secretariat.
“Pension provides self-respect as parents are not dependent on their children. My mother is not dependent on her children as my father’s pension takes care of her needs. The government will work towards providing a dignified life to its employees after retirement,” he said.
