Finances improving, pending dues to be cleared in phases: CM Sukhu

Spread the news

State’s improving finances to help clear outstanding employee and pensioner dues; Sukhu says Rs 1,500 crore disaster aid from Centre still awaited

Shimla , September 3

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said the state’s financial condition was steadily improving and that the government would continue to clear pending dues for employees and pensioners periodically.

Sukhu said the government would make payments as the state’s financial position improves and asserted that it would not function under pressure from anyone. He said the government had already released arrears for pensioners aged above 67 years.

The Chief Minister said all outstanding liabilities of employees and pensioners would be cleared gradually as the state’s financial condition improves. He said the government was focusing on increasing revenue while maintaining financial discipline and transparency.

Sukhu claimed that the government had generated revenue by closing the “backdoors of corruption”. Despite discontinuing the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG), he said the government had continued to clear pensioners’ dues.

He said all pending dues of fourth-class pensioners had been paid, while 55 percent of the dues of pensioners who retired between 2021 and 2022 had been cleared.

The Chief Minister also targeted the Center over disaster relief, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced Rs 1,500 crore in assistance for Himachal Pradesh following disasters, but the state had not received any amount so far.

Sukhu reiterated that his government was working with financial discipline and transparency. He said increasing revenue was essential to protect the interests of employees and pensioners and ensure their pending dues were cleared in a phased manner.