Punjab Govt. reviewing policy on extension of retirement age

New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday announced a review on the policy governing the extension of retirement age for two years, over and above the age of 58. The government, he said, was mulling a policy change to fix 58 as retirement age to generate more employment opportunities for the state's youth, but the issue was still under discussion. The Chief Minister said the matter was being reviewed and a policy decision would be taken only after detailed analysis of the implications of any change with regard to the existing policy. Responding to a question on delay in repayment of crop loans by the farmers in the wake of debt waiver announced by his government, the Chief Minister said the government was already in the process of settlement with banks. He pointed out that Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had said the waiver scheme would be implemented by the government within a week. Capt Amarinder added that the final report on debt waiver by the expert committee headed by Dr. T Haq was awaited to enable the government to take a holistic view of the problem and find ways and means to implement farm debt waiver in right earnest. On the possibility of imposition of any new taxes, Capt Amarinder clarified that the state government was trying to mobilise additional financial resources to narrow the widening budget deficit and the finance minister was working in this direction. (ANI)