Himachal Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh Thakur, Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Health Minister Vipin Parmar and Industries Minister Bikram Singh on Friday hailed the decisions of the new Cabinet on lowering the age for providing social security pension to the elderly from 80 to 70 years and that too without any consideration of the income criteria.
“The decision would benefit major section of the elderly people. This will go a long way in giving succour to them,” they said in a statement issued here.
The Ministers also welcomed the decision for releasing three percent dearness allowance to employees and pensioners of the State Government which will benefit around 2.5 lakh employees.
They said employees were the backbone for implementing the policies and programmes of the State Government and the share they deserved since long was given at the right time as the new year’s gift.
The Ministers also welcomed the decision of ceasing the extensions and re-employment given by the previous State Government with immediate effect as previous Government benefitted the favourites only indulging in nepotism.
Decision was also taken to review the decisions of last six months of the previous Government. The newly appointed Ministers also welcomed the decision of forming the Cabinet Sub Committee to chalk out a strategy for dealing with the problems of stray and abandoned animals. They said that this was the biggest problem and a ray of hope has emerged amongst the rural folks as these animals caused heavy loss to their crops.
They thanked the people of Himachal Pradesh for reposing their faith and confidence in BJP and its policies and programmes and said that the party will adopt zero tolerance towards corruption.