Himachal cabinet unveils key decisions: Panchayat polls, pension rules and infrastructure boost

Shimla(The Uttam Hindu): The State Cabinet, in its meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu decided to invite objections and suggestions from the general public on the proposed amendments to Rules 28, 87, 88 and 89 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Elections) Rules, 1994. The proposed amendments provide that Panchayats which have remained reserved continuously for two consecutive terms since the base year 2010 will not be reserved in the forthcoming Panchayat elections.

It also approved amendments to the Social Security Pension Rules, 2010 by redefining the term ‘Destitute’ in a clearer manner and simplifying the certification process for availing benefits. Under the revised provisions, women abandoned by their husbands, who are not living with them and have no independent source of income, will be considered as destitute women.

The Cabinet decided to extend 40 percent of the Local Area Development Fund under Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy for providing financial assistance to children of the State.

It also gave its nod to cancel 15 hydroelectric projects that failed to be commissioned despite availing the benefit of the one-time amnesty scheme.

The Cabinet decided to allot the 10 MW Small Hydro Electric Project at Pandoh to the Bhakra Beas Management Board subject to return of the unused land by the BBMB to the State Government. The State Government will receive 13 percent free power and 5 percent power as its share from BBMB.

It further approved the Operation and Maintenance Policy for handing over in-village infrastructure of both Single Village Schemes and Multi Village Schemes to Gram Panchayats.

The Cabinet approved the constitution of the Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited at Dhagwar comprising milk producers from the districts of Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba and Una. Additionally, the National Dairy Development Board will be engaged as the Administrator for the management and operation of the Dhagwar Milk Processing Plant.

It also approved the enhancement of Heli-Taxi services on the Chandigarh-Shimla-Chandigarh route from three sorties to twelve sorties per week, with flights to be operated twice daily for six days a week. The State Government will provide viability gap funding to support the operation.

It decided to release salary of outsourced employees engaged under Jal Jeevan Mission in Jal Shakti Vibhag from the State resources as the Government of India has not released funds under Jal Jeevan Mission.

The Cabinet gave its approval to fill up 60 Junior Assistant Professors in various Government Engineering and Pharmacy Colleges in the department of Technical Education.

It gave its nod to fill up two posts of Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies and 30 posts of Inspector Cooperative Societies in the department of Cooperation.

It decided to fill up 16 posts of coaches in the Sports Hostels in Education Department.

The Cabinet decided to fill up three posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in Information and Public Relations Department.

Approval was given to increase the bed capacity of Sports Hostel in Kharidi, district Hamirpur to 100 beds. Additionally, it was also decided to name as State level Sports Centre of Excellence.

The Cabinet gave its nod to create Sub Divisional Police Office at Gagret in Una district along-with creation and filling up of requisite posts.

It gave its approval to transfer the land in Mauja Kuftu , Tehsil Kotkhai, district Shimla in favour of Ministry of Education for opening New Kendriya Vidyalaya at Kotkhai.

It also put its seal to transfer the land in Mauja Haripur Tohana, tehsil Poanta Sahib, district Sirmaur in favour of Ministry of Education for opening new Kendriya Vidyalaya at Paonta Sahib.

The Cabinet decided to upgrade Police Post Kotla to Police Station in Police District Nurpur along with the creation and filling up of requisite posts.

It decided to upgrade Fire Post, Tahliwal in Una district to Sub Fire Station alongwith creation and filling of requisite posts.

It gave its nod to appoint the remaining seven candidates selected for the post of Patwari in 2016 for Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts against vacant posts.

The Cabinet also gave its consent to grant an 80-year lease in favour of the HIMUDA by amending Rule 7 of the Himachal Pradesh Lease Rules, 2013, which earlier provided that the State Government shall not grant lease of land for a period exceeding 40 years.

It decided to regularise the services of part-time water carriers working in the Education Department in district Sirmaur who have completed 11 years of service (seven years as part-time water carriers and four years as daily wagers) as on 31.03.2025.