Kumar Bahukhandi
For the first time in the history of the state, 2 lakh employees and 1.5 lakh pensioners did not receive their salary on the 1st of the month.
Himachal Pradesh Economic Crisis: To get the votes from of the public, freebies are promised and then when the time comes to fulfill them, they are burdened with debt. Something similar has happened in Himachal Pradesh. The situation is such that the economic crisis in Himachal Pradesh has deepened. The result of that is for the first time in the history of the state, 2 lakh employees and 1.5 lakh pensioners of the state could not get their salaries and pension on the day one of the month .
The small state of the country, Himachal Pradesh, currently has a huge debt of about Rs 94 thousand crore. This burden has weakened the financial condition of the state. Due to this, the state government has to take new loans to repay the old debt. The state government has liabilities of about Rs 10 thousand crore for employees and pensioners.
The Himachal Pradesh government is to receive Rs 520 crore of revenue deficit grant from the Center. This amount will come to the state government treasury on September 5 itself. Only after this will the employees be able to get salary. In Himachal Pradesh, the state government has to spend Rs 1 thousand 200 crore to pay salary to the government employees every month. Similarly, an amount of Rs 800 crore is spent every month to give pensions.
CM Sukhwinder Singh had made this appeal
In view of the poor economic condition of Himachal Pradesh, the government had taken a big decision recently. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had announced on Thursday August 29 that the Chief Minister, Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Chairman of Board Corporations will not take salary and allowances for two months. The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh had also demanded from all the MLAs to leave their salary and allowances for two months. CM Sukhu says that since the financial condition of the state is not good, he is leaving his and his ministers’ salary and allowances for two months.
Let us inform you that Congress had made many big promises to return to power in the 2022 elections. After coming to power, these promises are being spent recklessly. 40 percent of the budget of the Himachal government goes to pay salaries and pensions. About 20 percent is spent on paying loans and interest.
Expenditure of Rs 2 thousand crore on salary and pension
This expenditure amounts is of Rs 2 thousand crore in total. At present, the salary will be given by the state government only after the September 5. Employee leader Sanjeev Sharma claims that the state government has said the treasury not to pay salaries to the employees right now. However, no such written orders have come to the fore at the moment.
What is the loan limit of Himachal
In Himachal Pradesh, the government led by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has taken a total loan of Rs 21,366 crore from December 15, 2022 to July 31, 2024. Out of this, a loan of Rs 5,864 crore has also been repaid. Not only this, the state government has also taken a loan of Rs 2,810 crore against GF from January 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024. Soon the debt burden of Himachal Pradesh is going to cross Rs one lakh crore.
The Himachal Pradesh government earns about Rs 1,200 crore every month from tax and non-tax revenue. In this way, salaries and pensions will be paid by combining the revenue deficit grant of Rs 520 crore and the state government’s own revenue of Rs 1200 crore. This problem is going to increase even more in the future .
