SHIMLA, April 10 — Irked by delays in receiving arrears under the revised pension scheme, Himachal Pradesh Government pensioners on Wednesday threatened to launch statewide protests.
Atma Ram Sharma, president of the Himachal Pensioners Welfare Association, said nearly 1.95 lakh pensioners remain affected. “Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has repeatedly stated that the previous BJP government left a liability of Rs 11,000 crore related to revised pay and pensions. Of this, Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore pertains to pensioners who retired between 2016 and 2022,” Sharma told reporters.
The Sixth Punjab Pay Commission, which Himachal Pradesh follows, was implemented in 2022 with retrospective effect from January 1, 2016. While arrears for pensioners above 75 have been cleared, those in the 70–75 age group and certain other categories are still waiting, Sharma noted. “However, a large segment — those who retired between 2016 and 2022 — continues to be left out,” he said.
Sharma warned that the association would intensify its agitation if the arrears are not released soon.
Meanwhile, in Bilaspur district, work on tunnel number 17 of the Bhanupali-Beri railway project remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day. Villagers from the Bilaspur Sadar area are protesting, claiming that construction work has caused cracks in at least 15 houses.
Local residents are demanding immediate intervention and compensation for the damage allegedly caused by the ongoing tunnel excavation.
