Shimla, May 6 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has called upon officials to clear the backlog of employment on compassionate grounds within one year.

Presiding over a high-level meeting on Compassionate Employment Policy here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that income criteria will be raised from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per annum.

The Compassionate Employment Policy provides for job appointments to dependent family members of deceased or medically retired government employees, ensuring financial support during times of hardship, a release said.

The Chief Minister said that the backlog of compassionate employment will be cleared in three phases and directed to give priority to widows and orphans below the...