Govt considers retaining outsource employees post pandemic; opposition calls for compassion

Himachalscape bureau February 20, 2024 3 minutes read

Himachal Bhawan project in Gujarat, Himachal Budget Session 2026 Revenue Deficit Grant

Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet

Shimla, Feb 20

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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated in the state assembly that the State Government is considering retaining the services of outsource employees who were hired during the Covid Pandemic however all the employees would be paid their honorarium.

Replying to a query raised by the Rakesh Jamwal during the Question hour Chief Minister said that services of 1916 employees who were hired on the outsources in the Health Department and Medical Education and Research directorate completed their services on Sep 30, 2023. He said that 641 employees were hired in the Health department and 1275 in the Medical Education.

Chief Minister intervening over the query said that services of the employees whose tenure ended as per their agreement would be hired in the future on the basis of their experienced gained during services. He said that retrenched employees served in the Oxygen plant are being taken by the state government on the experience gained through their services.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania and BJP members pressed the government to show a large heart towards the outsource employees who had completed their tenure in the Health services as they served the people during the tough time of Covid pandemic in health emergencies in the country.

Jai Ram Thakur termed the Congress Government incentives and not serious on their assurance and advocated to retain services of employees after completion of their tenure. He said that services of such employees could not be ignored by the state as they worked in the tough times of Covid pandemic and took care of patients like an attendant at the time when a family had refused to attend their patient in the hospital. BJP leader said that the government did not pay the pending honorarium.

Health Minister Dr Dhani Ram Shandil also said that the Government is compassionate towards the retrenched outsource employees after completion of their tenure as most of the employees who were working on the Oxygen plant in the Covid pandemic are being hired back. He said that the Government may take the services of other employees as their contribution and services during the Covid pandemic valued by the state government.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP for indulging in petty politics on every issue to score political points. He said that Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur tried to blow the issue of appointment of employees done on the outsource basis out of proportions which is mere political gimmick and BJP was never sensitive to such appointments and government would have to abide with the norms while retaining and hiring the services of employees.

Jai Ram Thakur said that the Chief minister is trying to accuse him for raising the issue of employees instead of showing sensitivity to the issue and said that BJP would keep on troubling this government to ensure the welfare of vulnerable and affected people as it is part of his role as an opposition leader.

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