Gandhinagar: The state cabinet, in a meeting held on Sunday afternoon, granted in-principle approval to extend the old pension scheme (OPS) benefits to 60,245 government employees who were appointed on fixed pay before April 1, 2005. State government spokesperson Rushikesh Patel stated that a formal notification will be issued soon, and the decision will cost the state exchequer Rs 200 crore.

Patel explained that the decision was made following multiple discussions between a three-member ministerial committee and employee unions. He noted that the appointment orders for fixed pay employees hired before April 1, 2005, specified that they were ineligible for benefits during their first five years of service, but benefits would begin afterward. The government has now decided to offer these employees OPS benefits as a gesture of goodwill. He also confirmed that this would apply to employees whose recruitment was completed before April 1, 2005, but whose appointments were delayed due to administrative reasons.

Patel further mentioned that employee unions had requested increased travel allowances during transfers and retirement, in line with the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. Additional demands included revising charge allowances, travel, and daily allowances, as well as increasing retirement and death gratuity. Patel stated that all these demands have received in-principle approval.DeshGujarat