Proposal to Give OPS to Himachal Electricity Board Employees Under Consideration: CM Sukhu
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Shimla, March 18: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has confirmed that the proposal to extend the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) appointed after 2003 is under active consideration. These employees, currently enrolled under the National Pension System (NPS), have been advocating for the restoration of OPS, a demand that is now being looked into at the level of the Electricity Board.
The issue was raised during the Question Hour in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, where CM Sukhu provided the information in response to a query from Ani MLA Lokendra Kumar. This response has brought hope to many HPSEBL employees who have been working under the NPS and seeking the benefits of the old pension system that was replaced by the new scheme in 2003.
Background on the Pension Systems
The Old Pension Scheme (OPS) was a defined benefit pension plan where employees received a pension based on their last drawn salary after retirement. The NPS, introduced in 2003, shifted the pension responsibility from the government to the individual, linking retirement benefits to market-based returns, which has been a point of contention among many employees in various government departments, including the HPSEBL.
Under the NPS, employees contribute a portion of their salary to a pension fund, and the returns are linked to the performance of financial markets. While it offers more flexibility in investment options, many employees feel that the OPS would offer them more security and benefits in their retirement years.
Retirement Data and Pending Dues
CM Sukhu also provided details regarding the retirement of employees under the NPS. Between January 1, 2022, and January 20, 2025, a total of 248 employees from HPSEBL have retired under the NPS. Out of these, five regular employees from the Ani assembly constituency have retired during this period.
Regarding retirement dues, the Chief Minister stated that for the five employees from Ani constituency, all retirement dues have been cleared for two of the retired employees. However, the gratuity payments for the remaining three employees are still pending. These payments will be processed once the necessary financial provisions are met.
Moreover, the Chief Minister informed the House that during the same period, a total of 48 employees from the Aani constituency had retired from HPSEBL. Among them, 18 employees have received full retirement benefits. However, the gratuity payments for the remaining 30 employees have not been cleared. The total gratuity dues for these 30 employees have been estimated to be around Rs 3.49 crore, which the government plans to address soon.
Gratuity Payments and Financial Provisions
The issue of pending gratuity payments has raised concerns among the retired employees and their families, especially those who have been waiting for long periods to receive their entitled benefits. The Chief Minister assured that the payments would be made in due course, once the financial provisions were fulfilled. This has provided some relief to the affected employees, who have been waiting for the clearance of their retirement dues.
Government’s Consideration of OPS Restoration
The announcement of the proposal under consideration for restoring OPS to HPSEBL employees has sparked a sense of optimism among government employees. Many have expressed their belief that the move would address long-standing concerns regarding pension security and improve the financial well-being of retired employees. The OPS is seen by many as a more stable and predictable pension system, which provides a fixed percentage of an employee’s last drawn salary as pension after retirement, ensuring financial security in their later years.
While the proposal is still under consideration, it is a significant development for HPSEBL employees, who are eagerly awaiting a favorable decision. The government’s willingness to engage with the concerns of its workforce has been seen as a positive step in addressing the issues that affect the state’s public sector employees.
The restoration of OPS for HPSEBL employees could set a precedent for other government sectors in Himachal Pradesh, where similar demands for pension reforms are being raised. Employees across various departments are closely watching the developments in this regard, as any decision on this issue could have far-reaching implications for public sector workers in the state.
As discussions continue, the government’s focus on resolving the pending gratuity payments and the larger issue of pension reform will be closely monitored. The employees, in turn, are hopeful that their long-standing grievances will be addressed, bringing greater financial security to their retirement years.
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