State government and various corporation employees protest in rain, demanding timely salaries and pensions from Himachal govt

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 6 (ANI): Employees, pensioners, and workers of various departments under the Himachal Pradesh government staged a protest in Shimla on Monday, braving heavy rainfall, to demand the timely release of salaries, pensions, and other pending dues. The demonstration was organised under the banner of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), with employees of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) joining in large numbers.
Speaking to the media, Raj Kumar Sharma, State Secretary of the HPTDC Employees Federation, stated that the protest aimed to draw attention to the ongoing financial distress faced by tourism corporation employees due to delays in salary disbursements.
"Every month, there is a delay in our salary payments," Sharma said. "Although our workload has reduced in some departments, employees are still performing their duties sincerely. We urge the state government to ensure that our salaries are released on time so that we do not feel neglected or betrayed. Timely payment is essential for employees to manage their family responsibilities." He said.
He added that the salary delays were causing additional financial strain on employees, many of whom were forced to pay penalties due to delayed loan EMIs and other financial commitments.
Employees are being penalised because they cannot pay their EMIs or loan instalments on time. This is unjust," he said, adding that the protest included a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on behalf of the employees, outlining their demands.
Sharma further urged the government to allocate a special financial package for the renovation and revival of HPTDC hotels, many of which are in poor condition due to a lack of maintenance.
"Our hotels need urgent renovation, furniture, carpets, crockery, and several other essential items that are outdated or missing. This has led to a decline in tourist arrivals and revenue," he said. "If the government provides special funds, we can restore the hotels to their earlier standards and increase the corporation's income."
He also demanded that the pending arrears related to the 2016 pay scale revision be released as soon as possible and that regular medical reimbursements and pension payments be made without delay.
The HPTDC Employees Federation emphasised that while corporation staff provide continuous support to VIPs, guests, and official functions, their own legitimate concerns are being ignored.
"We have always extended our full cooperation to the government and served all dignitaries and guests through the tourism corporation. Now it's time the government reciprocates by ensuring our financial stability and dignity," Sharma added.
The protesters vowed to continue their agitation if their demands were not met soon, warning that delays in payments and neglect of employee welfare could further affect the functioning and reputation of the state's tourism sector. (ANI)