Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 15 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukvinder Singh Sukhu, on Wednesday, addressed the ongoing strike by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) pensioners.
Speaking to reporters, he stated that pensions should ideally be released by the 15th of every month, adding that HRTC needs to rationalise its workforce, especially at the officer level, to control expenditures.
The Himachal CM said that the state government provides Rs 750 crore annually to HRTC. The corporation generates approximately Rs 70 crore per month from its operations, but recent natural calamities have impacted its finances for two months.
"...We provide Rs 750 crore annually to HRTC. The corporation earns approximately Rs 70 crore per month from its operations, including school and subsidised bus services. However, due to recent natural calamities, operations were affected for two months. Their pensions should ideally be released by the 15th of every month... HRTC needs to rationalise its workforce, especially at the officer level, to control expenditure..." said Sukhu.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) pensioners staged a protest at Chaura Maidan, Shimla, expressing resentment against the state government and HRTC management for withholding pensions and pending dues. The pensioners vowed to continue their agitation until the government takes a fair and final decision on their pension issues.
Addressing the gathering, Devraj Thakur, president of the HRTC Association's Organisation, said that both the government and management had "betrayed" the retired employees.
"We have been deceived by the management and the state government. The Himachal Pradesh government adopted the new pay scale scheme in 2016, but the arrears from 2016 to 2022 are still pending. Since April 1, 2024, not a single retired employee has received even ₹1 as pension," Thakur said.
He stated that for the past four years, no medical reimbursement claims have been processed, and he claimed that employees had passed away during this period without receiving reimbursement for their medical expenses.
"Over 500 retired employees have passed away in the last four years without receiving reimbursement for their medical expenses. Many of us worked in workshops amid smoke and dust and suffer from chronic ailments. Even today, about 70% of those who came to the protest brought along their daily medicines," he said.
Thakur further stated that many pensioners are forced to borrow money for medicine and daily meals. Additionally, he accused the government of reducing the pension and salary budget, which has worsened the financial crisis for retirees.
"At this age, 70 and 80 years pensioners are being forced to borrow money for medicines and daily meals. Every month we wait in hope that our pension will arrive on the first, so we can clear our dues. But even that hope is fading...."Earlier, ₹72 crore was allocated for salaries and pensions, but it has now been reduced to ₹50-55 crore. Out of this, ₹27-28 crore goes to pensions. The situation is deteriorating every month," said Thakur.
Moreover, he also recounted his meeting with the state's Chief Minister, who assured the delegation that a fixed date for pension disbursement would be provided. However, despite the Chief Minister's assurance, pension payments continue to be delayed.
"The Chief Minister told us that he understands the value of pension as he himself had depended on it during difficult times. He assured that since GST payments reach the central account by the 10th of every month, our pensions would be released by the 11th, 12th, or 15th. But despite his assurance, pensions are still being delayed, and last month, they were not released at all," Thakur said.
Therefore, the president of the HRTC Association warned that pensioners may intensify their protest if the government fails to respond before Diwali.
"We requested the Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister to release medical reimbursement bills before Diwali, but the matter was deferred again. If the government does not act, we will continue our protest both offline and online," Thakur said.
The protest saw the participation of hundreds of elderly pensioners, many are undergoing treatment at hospitals such as IGMC Shimla and Tanda Medical College. The pensioners' organisations, HRTC Pensioners' Welfare Forum and HRTC Pensioners' Welfare Organisation, are expected to hold a joint meeting soon to decide their next course of action.