Pending Medical Bills of Pensioners to Be Cleared Within a Month, Announces Himachal CM. 

Shimla:

In a major relief to retired government employees, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday announced that the Himachal Pradesh Government will clear all pending medical reimbursement bills of pensioners within the next one month. The assurance came during his address to a delegation of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Front in Shimla.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of employees and pensioners, the Chief Minister said that government staff formed the backbone of the administration, and resolving their issues in a fair and timely manner was the state’s responsibility. He highlighted that soon after assuming office, the present government restored the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to ensure financial security for retired employees—a move that has benefitted nearly 1.36 lakh employees across the state.

CM Sukhu added that the government has been consistently working to address the demands of pensioners and has been releasing their dues periodically. However, he pointed out that financial mismanagement by the previous BJP government had strained the state’s economy, leading to delays in payments to employees and pensioners. Despite these challenges, he said, the current government is focusing on strengthening resource generation while maintaining strict financial discipline.

The Chief Minister assured the delegation that all dues owed to employees and pensioners would be cleared with a positive and empathetic approach.

Atma Ram Sharma, President of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Front, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for the decision and placed before him various pending demands of the pensioners.

The announcement has brought significant relief to thousands of pensioners who have been awaiting reimbursement of their medical bills, raising hopes for timely resolution of other longstanding issues as well.