Lucknow: The State Employees Joint Council has welcomed several important decisions approved by the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the official residence on Kalidas Marg.
Reacting to the Cabinet’s approval of 28 proposals, Council President J.N. Tiwari expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for decisions that directly benefit employees and public service personnel.
In a statement issued on Monday, Tiwari particularly welcomed the decision to provide cashless medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh for Home Guards, calling it a significant welfare measure. He also appreciated the Cabinet’s approval of direct recruitment opportunities for international-level sportspersons, describing it as an important step towards encouraging excellence in sports and recognizing athletes’ achievements.
The Council also praised the government’s decision to revive a data centre project that had remained non-operational since 2021. According to Tiwari, the move will play a crucial role in strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s digital infrastructure and support the state’s ambition of emerging as a major hub for digital technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
While welcoming the Cabinet’s decision regarding pension enhancement for chairpersons and members of the Public Service Commission, Tiwari reiterated the long-standing demand of government employees for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for employees appointed after 2005. He noted that pension-related reforms remain a key concern for a large section of the state workforce.
The Council also appreciated the Cabinet’s decision to increase washing and stitching allowances by 50 percent for uniformed employees. Tiwari pointed out that these allowances had not been revised for several years, making the increase a much-needed relief for employees entitled to uniform benefits.
Another decision welcomed by the Council was the reservation of sports quota posts for medal-winning athletes at the international level. The Cabinet has approved recruitment to several positions, including District Sports Officers, District Youth Welfare Officers, and Deputy Sports Officers, through the sports quota, providing new career opportunities for accomplished sportspersons.
While appreciating the government’s welfare-oriented decisions, Tiwari also drew attention to pending employee issues. He urged the Chief Minister to make the administrative machinery more accountable and responsive to employee concerns.
According to the Council, a lack of meaningful dialogue between government officials and employee organizations over the past two and a half years has slowed the resolution of several service-related matters. Tiwari said delays in addressing employee grievances raise concerns about administrative functioning and called for greater engagement between officials and employee representatives.
With the state moving closer to an election year, the Council appealed to the Chief Minister to personally monitor issues affecting government employees and ensure timely solutions to their long-pending demands.
The State Employees Joint Council expressed hope that the government would continue taking employee-friendly decisions while also addressing broader concerns related to service conditions, welfare measures, and pension reforms.
