Summary of this article
Himachal Pradesh is considering a Diwali DA instalment for employees and pensioners.
Retired Class-IV employees will receive Rs 20,000 over salary arrears.
Specialist doctors’ salaries and postgraduate medical stipends have increased.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has indicated that the state government is considering releasing a dearness allowance (DA) instalment for government employees and pensioners around Diwali. He made the announcement during a public meeting in Kaza, as part of his two-day visit to the Spiti Valley.
The government is also reviewing pending employee and pensioner dues and has announced measures covering retired workers, fishermen and medical professionals, according to PTI.
DA Arrears And Pension Benefits Under Review
In July, Sukhu announced that the government was examining pending DA instalments and arrears for state employees and pensioners. The state's financial position has been reviewed at a high-level meeting of the Finance Department.
During an event in Dehra, Kangra, in August, the chief minister reiterated that the government would provide DA in due course. He also announced that pensioners aged above 67 years had received their full arrears, leave encashment and gratuity.
The government has also announced an additional Rs 20,000 for Class-IV employees who retired between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2022. This payment is over and above their salary arrears.
Sukhu has also stated that directions would be issued to remove the basic pay condition applicable to Class-I, Class-II and Class-III pensioners.
Separately, 800 fishermen have received financial assistance of Rs 3,500 each under the Mukhyamantri Machhuaara Samman Nidhi Yojana. The amount was transferred directly to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Contract And Trainee Medical Officers Get 78 Per Cent Pay Hike
In early August, the Himachal Pradesh government approved a 78 per cent increase in the monthly salaries of contract and trainee medical officers who are specialists, under the 7th Pay Commission.
Their monthly pay has increased from Rs 33,600 to Rs 60,000. The government has stated that the revised remuneration is intended to encourage specialist doctors to work in government healthcare institutions, including facilities in remote areas.
Stipends Revised For Postgraduate Medical Students
The government has also revised stipends for postgraduate medical students enrolled in government medical colleges, ANI reported.
First-year postgraduate students will receive Rs 50,000 per month, up from Rs 40,000. The monthly stipend for second-year students has increased from Rs 45,000 to Rs 60,000, while third-year students will receive Rs 65,000 instead of Rs 50,000.
The government has also increased monthly stipends for Senior Residents and specialist doctors in medical colleges by 50 to 170 per cent, depending on the category.
Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists will receive Rs 1 lakh per month, compared with Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000 earlier. Super Specialists and Senior Residents in super-speciality roles will receive Rs 1.30 lakh per month, up from the earlier range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000.
