Sukhu govt snatches special privileged pension to emergency jail inmates

Shimla, Mar 4 – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has toppled the landmark special privileged pension scheme being issued to more than 700 Poltical prisoners who were jailed by former Congress Prime Minister Indra Gandhi in 1977 during the declared emergency.

Sukhu council of ministers not only decided to do away unpopular Employees new pension scheme but the pension started by the erstwhile Jairam government from the state exchequer to those leaders and BJP workers who went to jail during the emergency imposed during the Indira government.

The Jairam government had started this pension to Poltical prisoners as Rs 12000 and 20000 for being jailed for 15 and more days under the Loktantra Prehri Samman Rashi. It was constantly opposed by the State Congress and after coming to power, the Congress MLAs also demanded to stop the honorarium.

The Council of Ministers approved the repeal of Himachal Pradesh Loktantra Prahari Samman Act 2021 and Himachal Pradesh Loktantra Prahari Samman Rules 2022. In this way this pension has been stopped. Among those who were entitled for above pension scheme include Former Chief minister Shanta Kumar, BJP leader Suresh Bhardwaj, Mahindernath Sofath and Shyama Sharma. The Cabinet also approved transfer of Rs 600 per student through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to all girls studying in classes I to VIII and boys belonging to SC, ST and BPL families. This amount will be transferred to the name of these students or their mother for school uniform and about 3.70 lakh students of the state will be benefitted by this.

Sukhu government not only do away with Loktantra Prehri Samman Rashi but also denotified the New pension scheme which was opposed by opposition BJP in centre stating that it would derailed the state finance in which are bleeding under the whopping Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has also urged union government to return Rs 80000 Crore of New Pension Scheme by changing rules in favour of 1.36 lakh State and retired employees who are covered old pension scheme restored by the government.