The Punjab government is contemplating a move to raise the retirement age of its employees in order to save about Rs 1774 crore, an amount that would be enough to take care of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations. A proposal in this regard is likely to come up before the state cabinet soon.
At least 10 ministers and a chief Parliamentary secretary have sent separate notes to the chief minister recommending the raising of the retirement age from 58 to 60, to cope with the financial crisis that the state is in.
The ministers who have sent the notes include health minister, Luxmi Kanta Chawla, technical education minister, Tikshan Sud, industry minister, Manoranjan Kalia, public works department minister, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and social welfare minister, Swarna Ram.
A chief Parliamentary secretary, Mohinder K Josh and ministers Master Mohan Lal, Janameja Singh Sekhon, Sucha Singh Langah, Ajit Singh Kohar and Harish Rai Dhanda are among others who have sent separate notes to the Punjab chief minister, favouring this move.
Significantly, neighbouring Haryana was the first state in the country to earmark Rs 1550 crore in its Budget 2008-09 for implementing the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.