Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Saturday reaffirmed the Congress-led State Government’s commitment to provide the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to state employees — a promise made during the 2022 Assembly elections. So far, 1,17,521 employees have opted for OPS, while 1,356 have chosen to continue with the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
However, Agnihotri highlighted a significant hurdle — the Centre has yet to return Rs 9,242 crore, comprising state and employee contributions under NPS, despite repeated requests. This amount, currently invested in bonds by the Centre, is crucial for disbursing benefits to retiring employees.
The Deputy CM also pointed out that the Centre has imposed a Rs 1,700 crore cut on Himachal’s loan-raising limit following the OPS restoration. Meanwhile, the state is considering extending OPS to employees of boards and corporations, with HRTC employees already reaping its benefits.
Enrolment in HP Govt Schools Plummets by 50% in Two Decades
Enrolment in Himachal Pradesh’s elementary government schools has halved over the last 20 years — dropping from 9.71 lakh students in 2003-04 to just 4.29 lakh in 2023-24, despite the number of schools remaining constant at 12,404. Education Minister Rohit Thakur revealed the alarming decline during the Vidhan Sabha’s Question Hour on Saturday, responding to queries from MLAs Rakesh Kalia, Pawan Kajal, and Randhir Sharma.
Thakur attributed the drop to shifting demographics and migration, emphasizing the need for rationalization. To address the imbalance, surplus staff from low-enrolment schools will be relocated to high-demand areas, particularly in hard-to-reach regions facing severe teacher shortages.
While the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) has improved significantly — from 1:22 to 1:11, with tribal areas boasting an impressive 1:3 — the state still grapples with vacancies. Over 3,395 TGT teacher posts, 546 headmaster positions, and 1,500 other teaching roles remain unfilled. Thakur assured that recruitment efforts are underway, with 937 TGT and 1,762 JBT posts requisitioned to the State Public Service Commission.
Despite batch-wise appointments in recent years, remote areas like Chamba continue to face staffing challenges. Thakur pledged to expedite recruitments and promotions to bridge the gap, ensuring quality education reaches every corner of the state.
CM Sukhu Meets Shah, Seeks Urgent Compensation for 2023 Monsoon Devastation
Shimla/New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi pressing for immediate release of central compensation for the massive damages caused by the 2023 monsoon. Despite submitting a detailed post-disaster needs assessment, the state is yet to receive financial aid from the Centre.
Sukhu highlighted the catastrophic impact of the rains, which crippled drinking water and irrigation systems and caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, and infrastructure. He stressed that the State has been managing relief and rehabilitation efforts with its own resources but requires urgent central support to rebuild.
Shah assured Sukhu of all possible assistance, raising hopes for prompt action. The meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, also addressed other state-related issues. The delay in aid has left Himachal grappling with the aftermath of one of its worst monsoon seasons.
