Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday instructed all government departments to expedite the release of pending gratuity and leave encashment payments for Class-IV pensioners, in line with commitments made in the state budget.

Chairing a review meeting with administrative secretaries, the chief minister also sought comprehensive information regarding applicants awaiting appointments on compassionate grounds. He said the government would examine the details and take an appropriate decision to address these pending cases.

During the meeting, Sukhu reviewed the state's ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse and directed departments to provide details of any government employees found involved in the trafficking of chitta, a commonly used term for heroin.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to tackling the drug menace, he said a statewide campaign against narcotics was being pursued vigorously and that strict action would continue against those engaged in the illegal trade.

The chief minister emphasised that safeguarding young people from substance abuse remains one of the government's foremost priorities. To strengthen preventive measures, he directed all departments to make dope testing a mandatory requirement before individuals are inducted into government service.

Sukhu also asked departments to furnish updated information on vacant posts so that recruitment processes could be initiated without delay. He noted that the government had already decided to fill 500 vacancies for the post of Junior Office Assistant (IT).

The meeting also focused on the damage caused by recent storms across the state. The chief minister instructed officials to prepare detailed reports on trees that had been uprooted or damaged on forest land so that their removal could be carried out promptly.

He announced that a special drive for clearing fallen trees would begin on June 1 and stressed the importance of completing the task within a fixed timeframe. According to him, delays in removing damaged trees often result in significant losses to state resources.

Directing forest officials to accord top priority to the issue, Sukhu said the affected trees should be removed and disposed of without unnecessary delay to prevent wastage and ensure better management of forest resources.

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The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Additional Chief Secretaries K.K. Pant and Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Chief Minister's Secretaries Rakesh Kanwar and Ashish Singhmar, along with other senior administrative officials.