The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by CM Sukhu, approved several key decisions in its recent meeting aimed at administrative reforms, infrastructure development, and social welfare. The Cabinet decided to seek public feedback on proposed amendments to Rules 28, 87, 88, and 89 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Elections) Rules, 1994, specifying that Panchayats reserved continuously for two terms since 2010 will not remain reserved in upcoming elections. Amendments to the Social Security Pension Rules, 2010 were also approved, redefining “destitute” and simplifying certification, making abandoned women without independent income eligible for benefits.
The Cabinet sanctioned extending 40 percent of the Local Area Development Fund under the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy to provide financial assistance to children and cancelled 15 hydroelectric projects that remained uncommissioned despite availing amnesty. It also allotted the 10 MW Small Hydro Electric Project at Pandoh to the Bhakra Beas Management Board, with 13 percent free power and 5 percent power shared with the State Government. The Operation and Maintenance Policy for in-village infrastructure under Single and Multi Village Schemes will now be handed over to Gram Panchayats.
Further approvals included the creation of the Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited at Dhagwar, covering Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba, and Una districts, with the National Dairy Development Board as administrator. Heli-Taxi services on the Chandigarh-Shimla route will expand from three to twelve weekly sorties, supported by viability gap funding from the State. The Cabinet also decided to pay salaries of outsourced Jal Jeevan Mission employees from state funds due to delayed central funding.
On the administrative front, approvals were given to fill 60 Junior Assistant Professors in government engineering and pharmacy colleges, two Assistant Registrar posts and 30 Inspector posts in Cooperative Societies, 16 sports hostel coaching positions, and three Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in the Information and Public Relations Department. The Sports Hostel in Kharidi, Hamirpur, will increase its bed capacity to 100 and be designated a State-level Centre of Excellence.
Public safety infrastructure will be strengthened with a new Sub Divisional Police Office at Gagret (Una), upgrading Police Post Kotla to a Police Station in Nurpur, and upgrading Fire Post Tahliwal (Una) to a Sub Fire Station. Land transfers were approved for new Kendriya Vidyalayas at Kotkhai (Shimla) and Paonta Sahib (Sirmaur). The Cabinet also approved appointments of seven pending Patwari candidates for Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu, granted HIMUDA 80-year leases (up from 40 years), and regularised the services of part-time water carriers in the Education Department in Sirmaur who have completed 11 years of service.
These decisions reflect the government’s commitment to improving governance, enhancing social welfare, upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring efficient utilisation of resources across Himachal Pradesh.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
