Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today addressed a large public meeting at Kansa Chowk in the Balh Assembly constituency of Mandi district and launched a scathing attack on the previous BJP government. He said that during the tenure of the previous BJP government, the double-engine government pushed Himachal into a debt trap and misused the state’s resources.
The Chief Minister said that around 45 months ago, a Congress-led government came to power in the state, giving a person from an ordinary family the opportunity to become Chief Minister. He said that, keeping in mind the problems and difficulties faced by ordinary people, the Cabinet took the decision to restore the Old Pension Scheme for government employees in its very first meeting.
He said that the Congress government was firmly committed to making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant. The government was working to curb corruption and ensure that people receive their rights. Along with providing financial benefits to employees and pensioners, the government is also implementing schemes for the welfare of orphaned children and widows.
Announcing changes in the eligibility criteria for ‘ Mukhya Mantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana’, the Chief Minister said that the mandatory requirement of working for one day under MGNREGA to receive benefits under the scheme would be removed. The family income limit would be increased from Rs. 50 to Rs. 75 thousand. He said that all eligible women above the age of 21 would be provided a monthly pension of Rs. 1,500.
