Himachal CM Announces Pay Hike for Government Employees Ahead of Diwali

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced a series of pay and honorarium increases for various categories of state government employees as a festive gesture ahead of Diwali.

According to an official statement, the honorarium for 21,115 mid-day meal workers has been raised by ₹500, bringing it to ₹5,000 per month. The honorarium for certain categories of School Management Committee teachers has also been increased by ₹500 per month.

Daily wage and part-time workers will now receive a ₹25 hike, taking their wages to ₹425 per day. Similarly, the honorarium for sewing instructors and panchayat chowkidars has been increased by ₹500 per month.

The government has also approved hikes for representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies. With an increase of ₹1,000, the Chairperson of a Zila Parishad will now receive ₹25,000 per month, while the Vice Chairperson will draw ₹19,000. Zila Parishad members’ honorarium has been raised by ₹500 to ₹8,300 per month.

For Panchayat Samitis, the Chairperson will now receive ₹12,000 per month—a hike of ₹600—and the Vice Chairperson ₹9,000.

Honoraria for Urban Local Body representatives have also been revised: Mayors will now receive ₹25,000, Deputy Mayors ₹19,000, and Councillors ₹9,400 per month—each reflecting a ₹1,000 increase.

The statement added that the government has also raised the monthly honorarium of Special Police Officers (SPOs) by ₹300, and that of Information Technology teachers by ₹500.