Shimla, Mar 15
Himachal Pradesh Government is committed to implement the recommendation of sixth pay commission. This was stated by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur who was replying to five days long discussion on State Budget estimates.
He said that his government is committed to provide the benefit of pay commission to the employees of the state however, shall await the final report submitted by the Punjab pay commission which is likely by March 31. Chief minister said that state government has already released the interim relief to the tune of Rs 5066 Cr since 2016 out of which 2302 Cr alone was paid during BJP rule.
He said that accumulated borrowing of the state increased to Rs 60544 Cr. The Congress had left an accumulated debt of Rs 47906 Cr when the BJP formed government in 2017.
Thakur said that debt growth rate in the Congress was 67 per cent while in this government this growth rate in debt being estimated 58 per cent. He said that debt rate increased by 26 per cent under this government.
The government is restructuring the state’s economy and is trying to be least dependent on borrowings. Against the borrowing limit of Rs 9187 Cr this year, Government has taken Rs 3157 Cr less loans.
”Under the next financial year state could generate borrowing to the tune of Rs 9500Cr but government is relying on only Rs 7747 Cr borrowing by reducing spends ” Thakur said.
On the demand of Congress members to rationalise the Shagun Scheme announced by the chief minister in 2021-22 budget estimates, he said that now the one time grant to solemnified marriage would be released Rs 31000 for all type of categories. Earlier in the budget speech chief minister had made this provisions for the girls from SC/ST community
only.
Unsatisfied over the chief minister reply on the budget Congress members staged walkout from the house.
