In Himachal Pradesh, many major decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, from providing economic relief to women to employment for the youth, expansion of health services and financial support to farmers and gardeners.
The government has decided to launch 'Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana'. Under this, eligible women in the age group of 18 to 59 years will be given financial assistance of Rs 1500 every month. Apart from this, eligible beneficiary families will also get 300 units of free electricity.
According to the government, 3.50 lakh eligible women have been identified under this scheme. At the same time, the existing financial assistance for women above 59 years of age has also been increased from Rs 1050 to Rs 1500 per month.
561 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) will be filled
The Cabinet also approved appointing 1000 Patient Mitras in the Health Department, filling 561 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) to strengthen digital systems in hospitals and creating new posts in various departments. The written examination of police constable recruitment will now be conducted offline instead of online.
Giving relief to farmers and gardeners, the minimum support price of naturally grown ginger has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg and the procurement price of C-grade apple has been increased from Rs 12 to Rs 13 per kg.
Apart from this, important decisions were also taken regarding allocation of hydropower and solar energy projects, sale of surplus water to the private sector, subsidy on purchase of buses and modernization of government assets.
Rs 1500 and 300 units of free electricity to women
The Cabinet has approved 'Mukhyamantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana'. Under this, eligible women in the age group of 18 to 59 years will get financial assistance of Rs 1500 per month. A total of 3.50 lakh eligible women have been identified under the scope of the scheme. Apart from this, 300 units of free electricity will be provided to the eligible beneficiary families.
The government has also decided to increase the financial assistance given to women above 59 years of age from Rs 1050 to Rs 1500 per month. This decision will also benefit the elderly women who are already receiving financial assistance.
Also read: Will electricity be cheap in Himachal, what is the plan of Sukhu government?
'Khelo Himachal' campaign against Chitta in all 12 districts
To give a new direction to the campaign against drug abuse in the state, the Cabinet has approved starting 'Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026' in all the 12 districts. Its objective is to engage youth in sports activities and promote healthy lifestyle, discipline and positive community participation. The government believes that efforts to keep youth away from drugs will be strengthened through sports.
The Cabinet has decided to adopt a uniform state policy for selling surplus raw water to neighboring states, government agencies and industries. Under this, the initial rate of water for all existing and future projects of the state, including interstate water projects, has been fixed at Rs 100 per 1000 cubic feet. This rate will be revised from time to time as per the system related to Wholesale Price Index. With this, a uniform policy will be implemented for the sale of water instead of setting different rates in different projects.
50 percent free power royalty on power projects after 40 years
The Cabinet has approved amendments in the Golden Jubilee Energy Policy-2021. Under this, a provision of 50 percent free power royalty for the next 10 years has been made after completion of 40 years of power projects operated by Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).
After completion of 50 years from the date of operation of the projects, they will be transferred to the state government free of cost. This decision will strengthen the government's authority over the state's energy assets in the long run.
The cabinet has also adopted a strict stance regarding long pending projects in the energy sector. Approval has been given to cancel the allotment of 222 solar power projects due to not starting work for a long time. Apart from this, it has been decided to cancel the allocation of 13 hydro power projects with capacity more than 25 MW due to non-compliance of the provisions of the policy.
Also, the tender process will be started again for 20 hydro power projects. This will pave the way for giving opportunities to new investors in place of pending projects.
Also read: Why six-time MLA Singhi Ram left BJP, political turmoil in Himachal
Subsidy increased on purchasing buses, promotion of electric buses on two medical routes
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme-2023, the subsidy on purchase of diesel buses for running passenger buses on intra-sub-divisional routes has been increased from 30 to 40 percent. Apart from this, special provision has been made to run buses from Hamirpur bus stand to Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Jolsapar and the new OPD of IGMC Shimla to Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialty, Chamiyana. On these routes, 50 percent subsidy will be available on the purchase of electric buses with more than 10 seats and 40 percent subsidy on the purchase of diesel buses.
Government will buy MSP of ginger at Rs 40, C-grade apple at Rs 13 per kg
To provide relief to farmers and gardeners, the Cabinet has approved increasing the minimum support price of naturally grown ginger from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kg. At the same time, under the Mandi Mediation Scheme, the purchase price of C-grade apple has been increased from Rs 12 to Rs 13 per kg. With these decisions, ginger growers and apple orchardists are expected to get better prices for their produce.
To strengthen health services, the Cabinet has approved the appointment of 1000 Patient Mitras in the Health Department. Its objective is to provide better assistance and facilities to the patients coming to government hospitals. To effectively implement Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) in the Government Medical Colleges, Dental Colleges and Directorate of Medical Education of the state, it has been decided to create and fill 561 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT). Apart from this, data entry operators will also be appointed for the implementation of HMIS in the health department.
Approval has also been given to increase the monthly honorarium of perfusionists working on outsourced basis in government medical colleges from Rs 25 thousand to Rs 45 thousand.
Geriatric medicine departments will open in three medical colleges
To provide better health services to the elderly, Geriatric Medicine departments will be established in IGMC Shimla, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Nerchowk Mandi. For this, along with the necessary posts, the posts of Senior Resident will also be created and filled.
It has been decided to create and fill various categories of posts for the smooth functioning of the Mother and Child Hospital Wing in Civil Hospital Noorpur in Kangra district. Eight posts of Assistant Professor and one post of Associate Professor will be filled in various departments in Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur.
Approval has been given to fill the necessary posts for the smooth functioning of the newly upgraded Civil Hospital Haripurdhar of Sirmaur district. At the same time, the primary health center at Kotkhai in Shimla district will be upgraded to a civil hospital.
Also read: Big action against drug smugglers in Himachal, property worth Rs 92 crore seized
Police recruitment written examination will now be offline
The cabinet has taken a big decision regarding police constable recruitment. By providing one-time relaxation in Rule-11 of Himachal Pradesh Police Department (Constable Recruitment) Rules-2024, approval has been given to conduct the written examination through offline instead of online. With this decision, there will be a change in the process of written examination for the upcoming constable recruitment.
With the aim of increasing employment opportunities, the Cabinet has decided to create and fill new posts in many departments.
- 20 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) will be filled in the Rural Development Department.
- 15 posts of Stenographer Grade-III will be created and filled in various courts of the state.
- Four posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) and one post of Multi Task Worker will be created in the Treasury, Accounts and Lottery Department.
- In the Youth Services and Sports Department, three posts of different categories will be filled under the four percent reservation prescribed for the disabled.
Baroh police post will become police station, new post in Hamirpur Medical College
It has been decided to upgrade police post Baroh of Kangra district to police station. For this, necessary posts will also be created and filled. At the same time, to strengthen the security arrangements of Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, approval has been given to open a new police post there. 'Registration Service Center Project' will be implemented to equip the existing sub-registrar offices of the state with modern facilities. These centers will be developed on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras, so that people can get registration related services in a more convenient and modern manner. The first phase of the project covers the districts of Solan, Shimla, Kangra and Sirmaur.
Government will give land for Kendriya Vidyalaya in Ghumarwin
It has been decided to lease 2.26 hectares of land for setting up a Kendriya Vidyalaya at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. This will pave the way for establishment of Kendriya Vidyalaya in the area. Approval has been given to give the status of state level fair to the district level Phool Yatra fair to be organized in Pangi tribal area of Chamba district. This will boost the identity and importance of the fair at the state level. It has been decided to establish Sub Divisional Magistrate (Civil) office at Dadasiba in Kangra district. For this, necessary posts of various categories will also be created and filled. This will provide better facilities to the people of the area for administrative work.