Secretariat Pension Welfare Association came out in support of the demand of DA and arrears by the Secretariat Employees Service Association

Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Pension Welfare Association President Madan Lal Sharma, Himachal Pradesh Secretariat and other related pensioner welfare association President Madan Lal Sharma, Vice President Mrs. Neelam Chauhan, General Secretary Bhupram Verma have said in a joint statement that they fully support the demands being raised by the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Employees Federation from the government for the DA and arrears and the gate meeting held by the secretariat employees in the premises of the Secretariat on 21 and 23 August 2024 and the upcoming strategy to be made by the secretariat employees to convince these demands will be fully supported and till the government does not accept these demands and does not call the employee leaders for talks, the Pensioner Welfare Association will also continue to struggle. Yesterday, the government has sent a 15-day notice to the leaders of the Secretariat Employees Federation, which the Pensioner Welfare Association strongly condemns and the government is requested to withdraw this action and invite the employee leaders for talks. As per the provisions of the Trade Union Act, government employees have the right to put forward their demands in a democratic manner and till date no such notice was issued on getting media, which is not logical and justified. The government has continued the work of dividing the employees and pensioners among themselves. The financial benefits of the employees who retired between 01.01.2016 to 31.12.2021 and the revised pay scale have not been paid yet, whereas all the benefits are being given to the employees who retired after 01.01.2022, which is an injustice and discrimination. The union kept raising this issue with the government again and again, but when no action was taken, the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Pensioners Union filed a petition of 147 pensioners in the Hon’ble High Court, the decision of which came on 22.03.2024 in which the court passed orders for payment to the government in 6 weeks along with 6 percent interest, but the government filed LPA against the decision of the court and despite filing a contempt petition, the government has not been able to pay the amount due. Which is a matter of concern.
It has been almost 18 months since the government was formed and it has taken a loan of Rs. 28000 crores and received Rs. 14000 crores from the Central Government for disaster relief work but the Himachal Pradesh government failed to spend this amount and this money lapsed but it has been unable to pay the employees’ 3 installments of dearness allowance and outstanding financial benefits. The entire employees and pensioners of the state are not satisfied with the functioning of the government at this time because the government is spending wastefully. The government has secretly increased the salaries and allowances of ministers and MLAs and talks of empty treasury for employees. Political appointments, re-employment to retirees are continuing. About 90 Additional Advocate Generals have also been appointed while their sanctioned strength is 35. Apart from these, lakhs of rupees are being spent on famous lawyers to fight cases. Crores of rupees are being spent on repair and beautification of government buildings.

Restoration of HP Administrative Tribunal is also not in public interest, which has been opposed by all the employees, which will cost crores of rupees.

Therefore, it is requested to the government to immediately accept the just demands of the employees and pensioners and call the secretariat employees for talks, otherwise in the coming time all the employees and pensioners of the state will be agitating. The union appeals to all the employee organizations and federations that all the organizations should gather on one platform and strongly oppose the repressive policies of the government and show unity. If the government is unable to resolve the issues of employees and pensioners before 15 September 2024, then the Indian State Pensioner Federation will give a memorandum to His Excellency the Governor of Himachal Pradesh in support of its demands and will intensify its agitation.