By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Friday announced a six percent hike in the dearness allowance of state government employees and pensioners at the Independence Day speech at Paonta Sahib in Sirmour district of the state.
Dhumal also announced that services of all ad hoc employees, who have served at least eight years in any government department, would be regularised.
During the speech at the Independence Day parade, Dhumal launched Atal Bijli Bachat Yojana (electricity saving scheme). Under the scheme, the government will provide four compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to about 1.6 million households free of cost, he said.
“The government aims to reduce not only electricity consumption but also lower carbon dioxide emissions,” the chief minister said.
With the implementation of the scheme, the state will be able to save about 270 million units of electricity annually.
Dhumal unfurled the national flag and inspected the guard of honour presented by the Himachal Armed Police, district police, home guards, NCC cadets and scouts of various schools at Paonta Sahib, 250 km from the state capital of Shimla, to mark the country’s 62nd Independence Day.