Big news for state government employees. The Bhajan Lal administration is likely to unveil the second budget of its initial term during the third week of February. The government has been working diligently on budget preparations. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal has already conducted pre-budget discussions with state employees, as well as representatives from business and industrial sectors.
There is a growing sense of optimism among government employees, industrialists, and business owners. This upcoming budget is expected to be significant, especially for state employees who are dissatisfied with the Khemraj Committee report, which overlooked their primary demands. The government may revise the selection scale for government employees from the current intervals of 9, 18, and 27 years to a new pattern of 8, 16, 24, and 32 years.
Additionally, there are serious considerations for changing job titles across various levels and increasing the eligibility criteria for recruitment in certain categories.
During the recent pre-budget discussions, representatives from 80 employee organizations presented their suggestions to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Key topics included the selection scale, job titles, and the elimination of the contract system. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of addressing demands that are genuinely necessary or have been pending for years.
The government is reportedly responding to the long-standing requests from employee organizations by adjusting the ACP (Assured Career Progression) timelines to 8, 16, 24, and 32 years, instead of the previous 9, 18, and 27 years. Additionally, there was an earlier announcement regarding the establishment of the RLSDC for contract workers across various departments. Now, the government is considering the creation of a new corporation that will facilitate the employment of contract workers in government roles.
Furthermore, there is a possibility of forming a directorate aimed at ensuring equal conditions for promotions and seniority, including the pay scales for ministerial staff in different departments. The budget may also include provisions for offering equal promotion opportunities to employees in smaller departments, similar to those in larger ones, along with time-based promotions.