Himachal Pradesh govt restores old pension scheme; 1.36 lakh employees to get benefit

The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday approved restoration of Old Pension Scheme in its first cabinet meeting, calling it a "Lohri gift" to 1.36 lakh employees who currently are under the New Pension Scheme.

The Congress party had promised to take a decision to restore Old Pension Scheme (OPS) at the first meeting of the government and it stood by the promise. The Cabinet also decided to adopt the Election Manifesto of the Congress party as policy document of the Government.

Briefing media persons after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said: "During her election tour, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi had told us to promise restoration of OPS and we included it in the Pratigya Patra and fulfilled the promise at very first cabinet meeting".

He further added that the benefit of old pension scheme would be given from today (January 13, 2023) and notification in this regard would be issued soon.

Asserting that the promise to provide Rs 1,500 per month to women in the age bracket of 18 to 60 years would be implemented, the chief minister said that a cabinet sub-committee headed by Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and Dhani Ram Shandil, Anirudh Singh and Jagat Negi as members has been constituted to prepare a road map for disbursement of Rs 1,500 per month in 30 days.