Chandigarh, May 28, 2023 – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has appealed to the Union government to intervene and instruct the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to return the significant amount of ₹9,242.60 crore that was deposited by the state government under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
During his participation at the eighth governing council meeting of “Niti Aayog” in New Delhi, Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized the need for the Centre to ensure that the previous year’s deposit of ₹1,779 crore under the NPS is not deducted from the current year’s borrowing ceiling of the financial year 2023-24.
The Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government, upon assuming power, had decided to implement the Old Pension Scheme for government employees who were previously covered under the National Pension System (NPS). As a result, the state government has been persistently demanding the return of the NPS funds from the PFRDA.
Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted the state government’s efforts in developing Himachal Pradesh as a “Green Energy State” and emphasized the ongoing initiatives to promote tourism in line with the principles of a sustainable and eco-friendly “Green Himachal.” He mentioned the state’s commitment to reducing carbon footprints by gradually replacing diesel buses with e-buses. Furthermore, plans are underway to promote the use of Green Hydrogen. The Chief Minister also announced the upcoming launch of the “Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Programme,” a World Bank-aided project worth ₹2,000 crore, which aims to further bolster the state’s power sector.
The state government aims to attract approximately ₹20,000 crore worth of investment across various sectors during the current financial year, signaling its commitment to fostering economic growth and development.
Meanwhile, the absence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann from the “Niti Aayog” meeting drew criticism from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which accused him of prioritizing the political interests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over those of the people of Punjab. SAD spokesman Charanjit Singh Brar lamented the missed opportunity for Punjab to contribute to discussions on crucial topics such as education, health, skill development, and infrastructure development. He questioned the AAP government’s claim of these issues being central to its governance model while choosing not to attend a meeting specifically dedicated to their detailed deliberation.
In response, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal expressed satisfaction with his state’s successful implementation of central initiatives over the past eight-and-a-half years. He reassured the welfare of all sections of society by introducing new schemes aimed at uplifting the populace.
The demand made by Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to retrieve the NPS funds from the PFRDA reflects the state government’s commitment to safeguarding the financial interests of its employees. As the issue gains attention at the national level, it remains to be seen how the Union government will respond to this plea and whether a resolution can be reached to address the concerns of the Himachal Pradesh government.
