Ensure timely salary & allowances, tourism corporation union urges Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) Employees’ Union has urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to ensure the timely payment of salaries and benefits to both retired and serving employees.

In a memorandum submitted to the CM, the union has requested the state government to allocate a specified grant-in-aid to help improve the corporation’s financial condition.

HPTDC Employees’ Union president Hukum Rana said the financial situation of the tourism corporation was not in a good condition as the corporation had been struggling since the Covid pandemic.

“Besides the natural disaster that struck the state last year had further dampened the arrival of tourists in the state. Flashfloods blocked several roads, resulting in a drastic decline in the tourist inflow. Consequently, the tourism corporation and private tourism operators have been facing a significant drop in revenue,” he added.

The union president highlighted that around 150 to 200 employees had retired from the corporation over the past two to three years.

He said the income generated by the corporation has fallen short for covering gratuity and cash settlements owed to these retired employees. Therefore, the tourism employees’ union has repeatedly requested the corporation management and the tourism corporation chairperson to seek one-time assistance from the state government to ensure timely payment of salaries and benefits to both retired and serving employees, said Rana.

He pointed out that the HPTDC was authorised to host state guests throughout the year. In return for providing services to dignitaries and state guests, the corporation charges a cost-to-cost price from the government, which is significantly subsidised.

“It is also obligated to pay retired employees their dues, including live cash settlements and gratuity, as ordered by the High Court. To fulfil this liability, we request the state government to provide a one-time grant of approximately Rs 50 to Rs 80 crore,” he said.

The union president said that employees currently working in the corporation had not received various allowances, including DA and arrears, as per the Sixth Pay Commission, which have been provided to employees in other departments.

“Besides, the tourism corporation employees are yet to receive the four per cent DA instalment from July 2022, which has been paid to employees in other departments and boards. We request that this amount be included in the August salary of tourism corporation employees,” he said.

Arrivals hit by pandemic, disaster

• The tourism corporation had been struggling financially since the Covid pandemic.
• The natural disaster that struck the state last year further dampened the arrival of tourists.
• Employees currently working in the corporation haven’t received DA and arrears, as per the Sixth Pay Commission, which have been provided to employees in other departments.
• The HPTDC is also obligated to pay retired employees their dues, including live cash settlements and gratuity, as ordered by the High Court.
• Around 150 to 200 employees had retired from the corporation in the last two to three years.
• However, the income generated by the corporation has fallen short for covering their gratuity and cash settlements.