The issue of delayed payments and pending medical reimbursements for pensioners has taken a sharp political turn in Himachal Pradesh, with the government and the Opposition locking horns over the growing discontent among retired employees.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, seeking to dispel anxiety among pensioners, announced that the state government would clear all pending medical reimbursement bills within the next one month.
Addressing a delegation of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Front on Monday, he reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of its employees and pensioners.
Sukhu said that the decision to restore the Old Pension Scheme immediately after assuming office — benefiting 1.36 lakh employees — reflected the government’s intent to ensure social and financial security for retirees.
He blamed the state’s fiscal strain on “financial mismanagement” during the previous BJP government, which, he said, had delayed payments to employees and pensioners. The Chief Minister assured that, despite the inherited financial burden, all outstanding dues would be cleared with a positive and proactive approach.
However, the Opposition was quick to counter the government’s claims. Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accused the Sukhu government of giving pensioners “nothing but false assurances” for the past three years. He alleged that not a single rupee had been released for medical treatment or medicines, leaving elderly pensioners distressed and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, citing widespread protests and a major rally in Dharamshala, Thakur said the government had shown no concrete action on the ground. He urged the chief minister to address the pensioners’ concerns seriously, saying those devoted their working lives to the service of the state deserve respect and timely support, not neglect.
With the government defending its record and the Opposition intensifying its attack, the plight of pensioners has now evolved into a politically charged fault line—one that is likely to remain at the centre of the state’s political discourse in the coming days.