Shimla, Feb. 13 -- Amid dwindling fiscal health and recommendations from the finance department, the state government has decided that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will not be stopped. In a high-level presentation on February 8, the department recommended a switch to the Centre's Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to prevent a total collapse of the state's treasury. Adopting the UPS, a hybrid under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) framework, is seen as the only key to lifting Centre-imposed restrictions on an additional Rs 1,800 crore in borrowings. The cabinet meeting chaired by Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday decided to continue the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for 1,35,000 employees. Announcing the cabinet decision, industry minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said the government would continue the OPS despite the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). The state government is staring at a financial crisis with loss of Rs 10,000 crore annually owing to discontinuation of RDG which constituted Himachal Pradesh's 12.7% of the budget came from RDG, which is second highest in the country. State's resources stand at about Rs 18,000 crore, and committed expenditure is around Rs 48,000 crore (salary and allied, pension, internet, repayment, subsidies, social security pension, etc,.) Share in central taxes devolution Rs 13,950 crore. State's resources after including Rs 10,000 crore borrowing is about Rs 42,000 crore. The resource gap was being filled through RDG until now, but due to RDG discontinuation, there is a resource constraint for meeting budgetary allocation. "The CM has already clarified that OPS will not be stopped nor will any welfare scheme of the government will be stopped or adversely affected," said Chauhan after the cabinet meeting while adding that DA will continue. Referring to the presentation by the finance secretary advocating switching over to UPS and discontinuing subsidies, Chauhan said, "Through the presentation it was an attempt of the state government to tell people about the state finances. It was just a presentation and the final call has to be taken by the government or the cabinet." "A false propaganda is being spread by BJP to mislead people," said Chauhan while adding that the chief minister had sought reports from departments regarding steps that can be taken on reducing expenditure but ensuring that the common man does not suffer." "It was the first time that a chief minister has made the people aware of how the resources of the state were plundered. The BJP just before elections opened 200 institutes and announced freebies without repaying their liabilities pushing the state under debt." Chauhan added that the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to convene an all-party meeting over the issue of discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG). Chauhan said that we have sent an official letter to BJP state president Rajeev Bindal, requesting his participation in the meeting. As the state is facing a serious financial crisis the meeting of all political parties has been called to formulate a joint strategy in the interest of the state. Chauhan said that the government believes that the stoppage of the Revenue Deficit Grant has adversely affected the state's financial position, and collective efforts are needed to overcome this challenge....