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Promises, demonstrates Gehlot, are for keeping

Faithful to three major promises in its election manifesto, the Congress government in Rajasthan has decided to lower the retirement age of its employees from 60 to 58, and set up commissions for human rights and women.

The state cabinet took the decision at its first meeting held in Jaipur under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The retirement age of 58 will take effect from March 31, 1999.

The previous Bhairon Singh Shekhawat government had raised the retirement age from 58 to 60, following the implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations.

Gehlot said the decision would cause an additional burden of Rs 10 billion to the state exchequer as it would lead to early retirement of about 15,000 employees.

''The previous government had taken no party concerned into confidence before taking the decision to raise the retirement age. The decision aimed at escaping the financial liabilities by postponing payments to retiring employees by two years,'' he noted.

Earlier, speaking at the informal meeting of the state council of ministers and departmental secretaries, the chief minister asked his ministerial colleagues to declare their properties and assets and to submit the list of the same to him. He also made clear that the recommendations of the Congress ethics committee, headed by A K Antony, the Congress manifesto and the Pachmahri party summit resolutions would be the guiding spirits of his government.

Talking to reporters, Gehlot said that in its bid to attract more industrial investment, his government would accord facilities to investors at par with those being given by the Gujarat government.

Gehlot claimed that the Shekhawat administration had handed him the state in a ''very miserable'' economic condition. The state treasury was ''empty and the debt burden is tremendously high.''

Even the Reserve Bank of India had given notice to the state government about its outstanding dues, he pointed out.

He reiterated that his government would issue a white paper on the state's economic health to inform the people about the situation.

The chief minister said the human rights commission would have five members. It would be headed by a retired chief justice of the high court. At least one member would be a sitting or retired high court judge; two others would be human rights activists.

He said that a high powered committee under him, with the state assembly speaker and leader of opposition as members, would select the chairman and members of the commission. It would have an annual budget of Rs 10 million.

The state commission for women would have three members. At least one member would be of the fair sex. An annual budget of Rs 7 million has been earmarked for the purpose, Gehlot said.

UNI

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