Joint consultative committee for pensioners on anvil: Dhumal

Hamirpur, Jul 15 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said his government would consider constitution of Joint Consultative Committee for the pensioners of the state, besides providing interim relief benefit to the employees who had retired from active service on or after October 31, 2006.

Addressing the twelfth annual general meeting of the HP State Pensioners Welfare Association at Hamirpur, he said the government would consider providing suitable land for association's office here besides facilitating entry to pensioners in the state secretariat.

Mr Dhumal said the government had made a provision of Rs 16 crore for reimbursement of medical bills of retirees and added that all the departments had been directed to clear the medical bills of the pensioners.

Efforts would also be made to deliver relief to the pensioners by considering all the pending demands on priority, he said.

Reiterating the state government's resolve to safeguard the interests of the pensioners, he said the government would make every effort to provide all benefits to the genuine demands of the pensioners.

On the occasion the Chief Minister also released books titled ''Pauranik Tatha Aitihasik Laghu Kathayen'' and ''Indradhanushi Laghu Kathayen'' authored by Sudershan Bhatia.

State Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, MP Anurag Thakur and local MLA Urmil Thakur were also present on the occasion.

UNI AS PS BP1731