category Regional, shimla, , tags Regional, shimla, , DW BUREAU Shimla The State Secretariat employees play a pivotal role in implementation of the policies and programmes of the Government and are the backbone of government, contributing immensely in executing the directions promptly. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated this while presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected office bearers of Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Services Employees Organization here today. He said that many measures have been initiated to improve the economy of the state days after the formation of the congress government. Adopting a humane approach, as many as 1.36 lakh employees of the state were benefitted by the old pension scheme as promised in the Congress Election Manifesto. Implementing OPS was, though, a much thought over decision, it was not for any political gain. Taking into consideration the services and commitment of the employees towards their duty the decision was taken for the welfare of the employees and their families so that they could lead a dignified life after retirement from the Government job, stated the Chief Minister. He said that all the employees working in the Secretariat were members of our family and they have to work as per the expectations of the people of Himachal. He said that the state government was going to implement many important schemes to strengthen the rural economy in the coming years and require support of the employees to achieve the same. Speaking on the demands raised by the organization, the Chief Minister stated that the government would seriously consider all the demands of the employees and a decision on the installment of dearness allowance would also be taken in the coming two-three months, he remarked. The demand for five working days a week will also be considered, he added. He said that after assuming the post of Chief Minister, he went to Girls Ashram Tutikandi and decided to start Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana for orphan children. He said that this was the first major scheme of the present government which has been implemented in the 11-month tenure of the Government due to the day-night efforts of the secretariat employees. Fulfilling yet another promise made in the Pledge Letter of the Congress Party, the government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme worth Rs 680 crore, in the first phase providing 50 percent subsidy for the purchase of e-taxi. Remembering the aftermath of the disaster, the Chief Minister said that 16 thousand families have been affected during the recent disaster and the government was making every possible effort to help them with its limited resources. In case of complete damage to Kutcha and pucca houses, the state government has increased the financial assistance to Rs 7 lakh. Along with this, free electricity and water connections and Rs 280 per cement bag are being provided. He said that nothing has been received in the name of a special package from the Central Government and now there is no hope of this special package. He said that the state government has sent claims worth about Rs 10,000 crore to the Central Government as per rules and Himachal Pradesh should get its due. He said that BJP should also help in this work. Due to the financial mismanagement of the former BJP government, Himachal Pradesh today has a debt of Rs. 75 thousand crore. The state government has also released a white paper in the Assembly on this issue and every Himachali has a debt of Rs. 1.02 lakh. The government was taking tough decisions to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant, which will make Himachal Pradesh prosperous in the future. He said that the government has though faced opposition due to the tough decisions taken by it, but they were taken for the welfare of the State and its people. The tough decisions taken to bring the economy on track were not for his personal interest but in the interest of the state as a whole he said. (editor dailyworld.in)