The state Cabinet under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s chairmanship approved a series of major decisions on Saturday, including the creation of 800 constable posts in the Police Department, engagement of 1,000 Rogi Mitras in health institutions, and expansion of social security pension eligibility for persons with disabilities.
In a significant welfare measure, the Cabinet decided to extend social security pensions to all persons with 40 percent and above disability by removing the existing eligibility condition that barred beneficiaries whose guardians were government or semi-government employees, or pensioners of boards and corporations.
Disaster relief and fire safety enhanced
The Cabinet enhanced compensation for loss of household articles for disaster-affected families from ₹70,000 to ₹1 lakh. For complete house damage in fire incidents, a special assistance package of ₹7 lakh will be provided. The government also approved ₹4.32 crore to the Air Force for providing helicopter services during disasters in the state.
Two new Sub Fire Centres will open at Kandaghat in Solan district and Rajgarh in Sirmaur district, with creation and filling of 46 posts of various categories and purchase of four fire tenders for these centres.
Healthcare infrastructure strengthened
Nine super-specialty departments will be created at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, along with 73 posts of Professor, Assistant Professor and Senior Residents. At Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda in Kangra district, 27 Senior Resident posts will be created in the Super Specialty Department.
A new Police Post will open at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Ner Chowk in Mandi district, with creation of requisite posts.
Employment and infrastructure initiatives
The Cabinet approved 150 days of employment under MGNREGA and sanctioned construction of retaining walls up to ₹2 lakh for individual works. It also decided to fill 150 posts of Junior Engineer (Civil) as Job Trainees in Jal Shakti Vibhag and Public Works Department.
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojna-2023, a 40 percent subsidy will be provided for converting 1,000 petrol and diesel taxis into electric taxis. Ten electric bikes were approved for highway patrolling to strengthen road safety measures.
Anti-narcotics measures consolidated
In a strategic move, the Cabinet decided to merge the Anti-Narcotics Task Force with the Special Task Force to create a unified Special Task Force under the Home Department, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and establishing a single agency to comprehensively combat narcotics-related challenges. It also approved a panchayat-wise Anti Chitta campaign across the state.
Support for small traders
The Cabinet decided to expand the ‘Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojna’ to benefit small vendors and retail shopkeepers in urban areas with annual turnover less than ₹10 lakh. Under the expanded scheme, one-time settlement assistance of up to ₹1 lakh will be provided through banks to distressed small shopkeepers whose business loans have been classified as non-performing assets, with costs fully borne by the state government.
Education sector developments
Government College Hamirpur will be converted into a dedicated Science College with approval to start one unit of integrated B.Ed (B.Sc.) programme. Government Senior Secondary School (Boys) and Girls will merge as Co-educational Government Senior Secondary School Hamirpur from next academic session.
Four-year integrated B.Ed. programmes will start at Government College of Teachers Education Dharamshala, Government College Nadaun, Government College Chail Koti, and Government College Tikkar in Shimla district. A two-year B.P.Ed. Programme will begin at Government College Saraswati Nagar, Shimla district.
New Fine Arts subjects will be introduced at College of Fine Arts, Loharab in Shimla district, and a new Fine Arts College will open by converting the existing Government Degree College, Haripur Guler in Kangra district.
The Cabinet approved convening of DPC for promotion to Principal posts at government level, with the new DPC chaired by the Education Secretary expediting promotion of 805 Principals.
Administrative restructuring
The Cabinet decided to reorganize panchayats in the state and approved reorganization of Bamson and Hamirpur Development Blocks in Hamirpur district. A new Kanungo circle will be created at Bankhandi by bifurcating Haripur and Bilaspur Kanungo circles under Haripur tehsil in Kangra district.
The Forest Department was authorized to issue letters of intent for grant of mineral concessions in forest land. Five posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in the Police Department and five posts for the Digital Forensic Facility at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, North Range, Dharamshala were approved.
