HP govt orders salary deduction to raise funds for Covid relief

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday announced that it will deduct two days’ salary of Class 1 and 2 employees and one day’s wage of Class 3 and 4 employees in order to combat the second wave of infections sweeping through the state.

The order issued by health secretary Amitabh Awasthi says the second wave of the pandemic was fast-spreading and fatal.

“Now, therefore, it has been directed that all drawing and disbursing officers in different departments, public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies under the government of Himachal Pradesh shall deduct two days’ salary, emoluments of each Class 1 and 2 employees, except health care workers working on regular or contract basis from whom one day salary shall be deducted,” the order said.

The collection will be deposited in the ‘HP Covid-19 solidarity response fund’.

“Despite several social welfare measures undertaken by the state government during the pandemic, hardships might still be faced by the citizens, particularly the poor and marginalised sections of the society,” says the order.