Chandigarh April 28: Despite the fiscal crunch due to nation-wide lockdown in view of COVID-19 Pandemic, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal has made it clear that there would be no restriction what-so-ever on the withdrawal of GPF advances by the State government employees for unavoidable expenditure like marriages.
Mr Manohar Lal was presiding over a meeting with the leaders of various employees union namely Haryana Sarva Karmachari Mahasangh, Haryana Sarva Karmachari Sangh, Haryana Rajya Karamchari Sangh and Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh through video conferencing here today.
While referring to the employees as the back bone of the government, he said that the State Government employees will continue to get the benefit of 17 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA). He also clarified that final results for the recruitment on 12,316 posts for which written examinations have already been conducted would be declared immediately after the completion of lockdown period. He said that in the last over five year’s tenure of present State Government, 68,560 posts have been filled by Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and about 5000 by Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). Contrary to this, during the last 10 years' tenure of previous government in the State only about 80,000 posts were filled up by HSSC and about 8000 by HPSC. He said that the present State Government has adopted a fair and transparent recruitment policy in the State under which jobs are being given to the youth on the basis of merit.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Nursing Welfare Association Haryana for their decision to forgo the doubling of salaries of the regular employees and to contribute one day’s pay to the Haryana Corona Relief Fund. He said that in a letter, the association has conveyed that the Chief Minister had announced to double the monthly salary nursing staff. However, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic they have decided to forgo the hike as the government needs funds to help fight the disease. Apart from this, regular nursing staff has also expressed their willingness to contribute one day’s pay to the Haryana Corona Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to all the health organizations, employees of Health Department and NHM, police personnel, sanitation workers who are continuously working in this hour of crisis. He said that out of the 2.80 lakh government employees, 2 lakh employees have expressed their willingness to contribute in the Haryana Covid Relief Fund. He also made an appeal to the remaining employees to come forward and contribute in the fund adding that the option of contributing into the fund would be available to employees for next month also.
Mr Manohar Lal said that as the State Government has to spend an amount of Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 crore every month on account of committed expenditure like salaries, pensions including social security pensions and loan repayment, therefore, the employees union should come forward and suggest ways as to reduce their expenses including through forgoing or deferment of certain allowances in this time of crisis.
He said that efforts are being made by the State Government to ensure that no poor in the State is deprived of food. For this, 1.93 crore food packets have so far been distributed by the State Government. Apart from this, arrangement of relief camps has been made for about 16,000 migrant labourers and homeless people.
The employee union leaders thanked the Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal for taking their suggestions and assured all support and cooperation to the State government in his hour of need.
Among those present in the meeting included Chief Secretary Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr Rajesh Khullar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Mr T.V.S.N Prasad, Principal Secretary General Administration Department Mr Vijayendra Kumar, Secretary Personnel, Training, Vigilance and Parliamentary Affairs Departments Mr Nitin Yadav, Director, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department Mr P.C Meena and other senior officers of the State Government. The employees' union leader who joined through video conferencing included Mr Virender Dhankar, Mr Subhash Lamba, Mr Krishan Lal Gujjar and Mr Hanuman Godara.