Retirees previously left without social security coverage in Himachal Pradesh are witnessing significant financial relief following the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. In a notable instance emerging from Dharamshala in Kangra district, 70-year-old Ratni Devi is finally set to receive monthly financial assistance more than a decade after stepping down from service. Battling cancer and having retired from the education department 11 years ago, she had received no pension benefits upon her exit. She expressed deep appreciation to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after being granted Rs 18,000 per month under the restored system.
A Decade of Waiting After Decades in Government Service
Ratni Devi dedicated a substantial portion of her life to public service, spending 15 years working in the forest department before joining the education department. She retired in 2015 from High School Satuan, but under the prevailing pension norms at the time, she was left without any recurring post-retirement financial support. Rajinder Manhas, head of the New Pension Scheme Association in Kangra district, shared a video of his conversation with her, highlighting her long-standing battle. Manhas stated that Ratni Devi is receiving cancer treatment, and their employee association had taken up her case as early as 2017-18 while regularly visiting her home during festive occasions.
Document Formalities Completed for Next Month's Payout
With her pension sanction formally cleared, she visited the association office to finalize the remaining administrative formalities. The required documentation has been assembled, ensuring that regular monthly disbursements will commence next month. Shifting from receiving zero pension to getting Rs 18,000 every single month will help her cover vital medical expenses and sustain her daily living expenses with dignity. A relieved Ratni Devi stated that she holds no grievances against the administration now that the restored pension scheme has secured her later years.
From Electoral Pledge to Administrative Rollout
The restoration of the Old Pension Scheme was a key electoral commitment made during the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. Following the change in leadership, the state administration issued a formal gazette notification on April 17, 2023, to restore the scheme for state personnel. Approximately 1.30 lakh state government employees have been brought under this umbrella. State data indicates that over the three-year period leading up to January 31, 2026, old pension benefits were disbursed to 9,739 retired officers and employees, while family pensions were extended to 1,656 households of deceased government workers.
