BHOPAL: The retirement age of state government employees will be extended by two years from the present 60 years, Madhya Pradesh Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Friday. Five lakh regular state government employees, who form an important pressure group, will benefit from the two-year extension. Chhattisgarh has already extended retirement age from 60 to 62.
Seen as a political masterstroke in the poll year, the announcement came nearly two weeks before the government employees planned to protest against the BJP government in support of their long list of demands. Chouhan has already announced a slew of incentives and initiatives to appease farmers and tribals. Responding to a specific query about pending litigation in the apex court in the reservation in promotion, the CM said since the matter was sub judice, the promotions of large number of employees were stuck.
“No government servant will retire without getting promotion and for doing so, we decided to increase the retirement age to 62 years from the existing 60 years.” The Opposition Congress criticised the announcement. “This decision is not going to benefit employees. It will deprive younger officials and employees from promotions. The CM should now announce a monthly unemployment allowance of `2,000 to jobless educated youth,” said Ajay Singh, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.