India, Aug. 17 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday assured the state's youth of transparent and merit-based recruitment to government jobs, saying ensuring fairness in employment was a top priority of his government. Addressing the 80th Independence Day function at Barsar in Hamirpur district, Sukhu made a special appeal to Gen Z and said thousands of young people had been employed in the government sector. He claimed that no recruitment examination had witnessed a paper leak under the Congress government, contrasting it with the previous BJP regime, during which he alleged irregularities in police recruitment and Staff Selection Commission examinations. Also Read - Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protest: Former MP Simranjit Mann booked, 17 others arrested Advertisement Sukhu said strict action had been taken against those involved in recruitment malpractices. He announced several measures, including an additional Rs 20,000 towards salary arrears for Class IV employees this month. Class III pensioners and family pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2021 will receive 35 per cent of their pension arrears, while Class I and II pensioners will receive 15 per cent. The government will spend Rs 281 crore on these payments. The CM announced 100 new CBSE schools from the next academic session and said doctors due to retire this month would continue in service until March 31, 2027. The monthly incentive for around 9,000 ASHA workers under NHM Himachal Pradesh will rise from Rs 5,800 to Rs 6,800. From September 1, outsourced staff nurses, pharmacists, operation theatre assistants and laboratory technicians will receive Rs 25,000 per month, while data entry operators will get Rs 18,000. Sukhu also announced the filling of 4,000 posts in the Jal Shakti Vibhag and reiterated his commitment to the Old Pension Scheme. He said the government was examining the concerns of multi-task workers and outsourced employees and considering a policy to provide them benefits.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.