The State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved several key decisions aimed at strengthening disaster relief measures, improving public services and enhancing employment opportunities across Himachal Pradesh.
The Cabinet increased compensation for disaster-affected families, raising support for loss of household items from ₹70,000 to ₹1 lakh. A special assistance package of ₹7 lakh will be provided for complete house damage due to fire. An amount of ₹4.32 crore was also approved for the Air Force for helicopter services during disasters.
To strengthen rural governance, the Cabinet approved the reorganization of Panchayats and sanctioned 150 days of employment under MNREGA, along with permission to construct retaining walls up to ₹2 lakh for individual works.
In the health sector, the government decided to engage 1,000 Rogi Mitras to support patient care and approved 73 new posts for nine super-specialty departments at Dr. RKGMC Hamirpur. Additionally, 27 posts of Senior Residents will be created in Dr. RPGMC Tanda. A new Police Post will be established at SLBSGMC Ner Chowk in Mandi.
Strengthening law and order, the Cabinet approved 800 new posts of constables, creation of five JOAs (IT), and sanctioned ten electric bikes for highway patrolling. It also approved posts for a Digital Forensic Facility in Dharamsala.
The government will also fill 150 posts of Junior Engineer (Civil) as Job Trainees in Jal Shakti Vibhag and PWD, and set up Sub Fire Centres at Kandaghat and Rajgarh with 46 new posts and four fire tenders.
In a major welfare decision, the Cabinet removed the eligibility barrier for persons with 40% and above disability, extending social security pensions irrespective of their guardians’ employment status.
To promote green mobility, a 40% subsidy will be given to convert 1,000 petrol/diesel taxis into electric taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojna–2023.
The Cabinet also approved merging the Anti-Narcotics Task Force with the Special Task Force, launching a statewide Panchayat-level Anti-Chitta campaign to curb drug abuse.
Further approvals included creation of a new Kanungo circle at Bankhandi, authorization for issuing mineral concession LOIs on forest land, and expansion of the Mukhya Mantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojna to support distressed small shopkeepers with up to ₹1 lakh settlement assistance.
In the education sector, Government College Hamirpur will be converted into a dedicated Science College and a unit of integrated B.Ed (B.Sc.) will begin. Several colleges across the state will start 4-year integrated B.Ed programmes, a 2-year B.P.Ed programme, and new Fine Arts courses. A new Fine Arts College will be opened at Haripur Guler.
The Cabinet also approved convening a DPC for promotion of 805 Principals, chaired by the Secretary Education, to expedite long-pending promotions.
These decisions reflect the government’s focus on strengthening disaster management, improving public infrastructure, expanding educational opportunities and enhancing welfare measures across Himachal Pradesh.