HP Govt provided employments to 756 on compassionate ground

Shimla, Aug 6 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Government claimed on Friday that it has provided employment to as many as 756 people on compassionate ground.
It further said that as many as 2,779 people were eligible to avail benefits under this policy till January 31, 2021.
Replying to a query in the question hour raised by Congress member Mukesh Agnihotri, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the government has rationalised the policy to provide benefit of employment to maximum dependent of employees who died during their service.
CM said that the government would constitute a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to expedite the matter so that the eligible candidates who have been left out could get the benefit of the policy.
“The Supreme court of India has also passed an order against the new provision made by the government stating that the of compassionate jobs could not become a right ” the CM informed the house.
A condition existed in the previous policy which stated that once employees complete 50 years while in service this benefit could not be extended, moreover one could avail it’s benefit if he or she died on the last date of his service after completing 58 yrs of age.
He said that income criteria for the eligibility was relaxed twice and now it was fixed at Rs 2.50 lakh per annum.
The Government is trying to facilitated maximum affected families as 706 people have so far been provided employment in the department and 50 in the board and corporations.
When this government came in power there were pendency’s of 4,445 people which has now come down to 2,779 with the rationalisation of the policy and provided its benefits to the poorest of poor.
Government wanted to extend the benefit to as many people as possible under the policy but some of the affected people have moved the high court to challenge the policy.
Chief Minister said that government have waived off the income of pension under the scheme but the SC has made a comment that income of pensions should not be kept out of income criteria and employment could not be treated as the right of the dependent.
Raising the issue earlier, Opposition leader Mukesh Agnihotri said that dependents of employees who died while serving in the government services are out protesting on the roads.
He said that the Government should relax the criteria by ‘one time relaxation.’ Members also said that constituting a committee under the chief secretary would delay the matter further as such steps are not considered constructive to promote benefits.
He said that quota of 5 per cent reservation in all govt jobs should be increased to bring down the pendency.