Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister was presented a Bank Draft of Rs. 3 lakh by Shri Khimi Ram, Deputy Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha and Rs. 51,000 by the newly elected Himachal Pradesh Non Gazetted Services Federation led by its President, Shri Prem Singh Bharmouria and accompanied by its office bearers here last evening.
Chief Minister thanked the Deputy Speaker and office bearers of the NGOs Federation. He said that State Government had always maintained cordial relations with its employees and had been redressing all their genuine problems in mutual consultation. He said that democratically elected employee bodies could be instrumental in creation of best work culture in all the Government departments and in implementation of policies and programmes of the Government in letter and spirit besides according top priority to the grievances of the common man.
Prof. Dhumal said that Government had promised 5 percent Interim Relief to its employees and same had been sanctioned from November 2006. He said that the employees would get cash with their salary for the month of March paid in April while the rest of arrear would be deposited in the GPF account of the employees. He said that State would be incurring an expenditure of Rs. 300 crore over the interim relief payment annually. He said that notification to this affect had already been issued by the Government with the directions to all heads of departments to implement the same for the benefit of the employees. He said that the State employees were always welcome to get all their genuine grievances redressed across the table at appropriate level.
Another draft of Rs. 31,000 was also presented by the Contract Veterinary Officers Association and Rs. 11,000 by Shri Jaishi Ram Sharma, President, H.P. Private Bus Operators Union as contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Chief Minister thanked the contributors for their generous attitude and donating liberally towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund which was provided to the poor and needy in the hour of distress. He appealed the people to donate liberally towards the Fund which was exempted under Income Tax provisions.
Shri Prem Singh Bharmouri, President, HP NGOs Federation thanked the Chief Minister for granting 5 percent interim relief to the employees and apprised of the resolution adopted by the Federation that every member of the Federation would donate Rs. 10 towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Shri N.R. Thakur, Senior Vice President, Shri Purshotam Guleria, Secretary General, S/shri M.R. Negi, L.R. Kaundal, Yashpal Raizada, Ashish Sharma, Rasheed Chand Rana, Vice Presidents and Shri Sumal Baniyal, Finance Secretary accompanied the delegation.