Shimla
Many important decisions were taken in the Himachal Pradesh cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. The biggest decision was to give jobs to the dependents on compassionate basis, under which approval has been given to fill 500 posts. The annual income limit of eligibility has also been increased from Rs 2.5 lakh to three lakh rupees. Apart from this, it has been decided to give priority to widows and orphans below 45 years of age.
Big decision for working women
The government has taken a big step in the interest of working women. Now women in private institutions will be able to work for 12 hours voluntarily. Along with this, women have been allowed to work in night shifts from 7 am to 7 am in shops and commercial establishments. During this time they will be available all facilities under the Maternity Benefits Act.
Focus on health education
The cabinet also approved several proposals in the field of health education. BSC nursing seats were increased from 60 to 100 at Sister Nivedita Nursing College in Shimla. A new nursing college will be set up at Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda which will have 60 seats. 27 new posts have been approved for its operation. Also, the Common Entrance Test of B.Ed. will now be conducted by Himachal Pradesh University.
In the energy sector, the cabinet has taken a major decision to cancel 172 small hydropower projects stuck for years under snow energy. It has been made mandatory to provide 12% free power royalty and 1% local development fund in new projects up to five MW. 22 major projects have also been canceled and the remaining time has been given till 5 August to respond. With this, the debt limit of HPPCL has been increased from Rs 5000 crore to Rs 6200 crore.
Other decisions have extended the Shimla-Dharmashala-Shimla air service for one year and the land acquisition deadline of Kangra Airport has been extended to August 2026. A cabinet sub-committee has been constituted on the medical device park to be constructed in Nalagarh. Along with this, a detailed presentation was also given to the development plan for Dhaulakuan Majra region and a detailed presentation on the situation of intoxication. All these decisions are expected to strengthen the employment, health, education and development of the state.
