Shimla : With state assembly polls less than a year away the ruling BJP regime in Himachal Pradesh has announced the release of arrears of Rs 825 crore to government employees .
These arrears are due to the fifth pay commission recommendations , increased capital allowance doubling of increments , house rent allowance .
Interestingly a double increment has been announced to those adopting a permanent family planning mode after birth of two girls .
Half the arrear amount of Rs 412 crore will be released to employees and pensioners at once in cash while the remaining will be deposited in their GPF accounts .
But the joint consultative committee (JCC) meeting held here Tuesday did not talk about the contentious issue of raising the retirement age and other demands of the civil servants .
Chief minister P.K. Dhumal said the state government had increased the daily wages from Rs 75 to Rs 120 .
Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest ratio of government employees in the country .
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
