Himachal Assembly witnesses heated debate over jobs, vacancies

Shimla, Aug 25 (IANS) Heated arguments prevailed in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday over providing jobs and filling vacancies. Dissatisfied with the government’s response during Question Hour, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought to ask supplementary questions, but Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania refused permission, citing time constraints.

Angered, BJP members raised slogans and staged a walkout. The Speaker clarified that the House had discussed a single question for more than 25 minutes and that a discussion on the matter was also proposed under Rule 130. He advised members, including Vikram Singh and Vinod Kumar, to maintain decorum, stating that the Speaker’s chair could not be directed.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu assured the House that the government is formulating a policy to secure the future of outsourced employees working in government departments, boards and corporations.

He said it is not possible to provide government jobs to everyone; therefore, under the Rajiv Gandhi Startup Scheme, subsidies are being provided for e‑taxis in the first phase, solar power in the second phase, and natural farming in the third phase.

By rationalising recruitment, Sukhu said vacant paramedical staff positions in medical colleges will be filled by March and June next year. Efficiency in the Health Department has increased from 35 to 65 per cent. Under a transparent selection system, the Public Service Commission and State Selection Commission have been reformed, linking written exam scores with interviews.

He added that the police recruitment paper was leaked during the previous government’s tenure, while the current government has filled 1,350 positions and initiated recruitment for 1,000 more. Due to lack of budget under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Yojana, the state government has provided relief to fishermen through the Rajiv Gandhi Matsya Yojana.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, along with member Jeet Ram Katwal, cornered the government, saying that one lakh permanent jobs were promised in the first Cabinet. Katwal highlighted vacancies across departments: 10,853 in primary education, 3,432 in higher education, 3,753 in the police department, 3,635 (about 57 per cent) in the State Electricity Board, 2,768 in the Public Works Department, 1,298 in the Health Department and 517 in the Jal Shakti Department. He claimed that 37 per cent of posts are vacant in various departments and 57 per cent in the Electricity Board.

–IANS

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