Rajasthan CM: Employee Welfare Key to State's Growth

Jaipur, Jan 16 (NationPress) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma emphasized the essential contribution of employees to the state's progress during a pre-Budget discussion with employee unions on Thursday.

He pointed out that addressing employee grievances is a paramount focus for the state government, urging them to engage with commitment and a sense of service towards a prosperous and developed Rajasthan.

The Chief Minister pledged that recommendations from employee unions would be attentively reviewed and integrated into the forthcoming 2025-26 budget where possible.

“Employees are a crucial link in realizing the dreams of Rajasthan’s 8 crore citizens,” he remarked, spotlighting their significance in the state’s advancement journey.

CM Sharma detailed several important measures the government has enacted over the past year to benefit employees, including Relaxation for Promotions, which reduced the required experience for promotion by two years in 2023-24.

Another initiative was the recognition of sports medal winners, which granted pay scales and salary increments to medal-winning employees according to regulations.

He also highlighted welfare enhancements, such as increasing gratuity limits from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, introducing additional pension allowances for pensioners over 70 years, and improving healthcare by initiating home delivery of medicines under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) on a pilot basis.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed his government's commitment to creating 10 lakh jobs, comprising 4 lakh in the public sector and 6 lakh in the private sector.

To date, over 59,000 appointments have been made, with 15,000 currently in process. Advertisements for an additional 81,000 posts have been released.

Additional measures include publishing an exam calendar for recruitment, modifying the Rajasthan Class IV Service Recruitment Rules to simplify qualifications, and resolving outstanding legal cases to speed up employment opportunities.

Employee representatives expressed their appreciation to the Chief Minister for proactively addressing their concerns and implementing reforms.

They praised his open communication and dedication to resolving employee issues, noting that it was unprecedented for a Chief Minister to engage directly with employees in this manner.

During the meeting, employees offered suggestions on addressing salary disparities, expanding promotion opportunities, regularizing contract workers, enhancing provisions for disabled employees, and enacting protective legislation.

Representatives from various departments, including Panchayati Raj, Education, Medical, Agriculture, and IT, shared their insights. The Chief Minister assured employees that their concerns would be addressed at both ministerial and departmental levels.

This initiative highlights the state government's dedication to nurturing a cooperative relationship with its workforce to propel Rajasthan towards greater prosperity, officials stated.