HP Cabinet: 1,000 rogi mitras to ensure patient care, Kangra to get new Kanungo Circle

It also approved a special assistance package of Rs 7 lakh for houses completely destroyed due to fire incidents.

Under MNREGA, the government has approved 150 days of guaranteed employment. Beneficiaries will also receive up to Rs 2 lakh for constructing retaining walls under personal works. To strengthen healthcare services, the Cabinet approved the appointment of 1,000 Rogi Mitras in health institutions. It also cleared the creation and filling of 800 constable posts in the Police Department. The government approved new sub-fire stations at Kandaghat (Solan) and Rajgarh (Sirmour), along with the creation of 46 posts and procurement of four fire tenders. In the Jal Shakti and PWD departments, 150 Junior Engineers (Civil) will be hired as job trainees. In a significant welfare decision, the Cabinet approved social security pension for all persons with 40 per cent or more disability, removing the earlier eligibility condition related to the employment or pension status of their guardians in government or semi-government bodies.

The Cabinet approved the start of a four-year integrated B.Ed programme at Government Colleges in Dharamshala, Nadaun, Chail-Koti, and Tikkar (Shimla district). It also approved the launch of a two-year B.P.Ed programme at Government College Saraswati Nagar and new subjects at the Fine Arts College in Lohrab. The Government College at Haripur Guler in Kangra district will be upgraded to a College of Fine Arts.

Approval was granted to conduct the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for promoting 805 principals in government schools, to be chaired by the Secretary (Education).

The Cabinet also approved the creation and filling of 73 posts (Professor, Assistant Professor and Senior Resident) for nine super-specialty departments at Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. At Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, 27 new Senior Resident posts were sanctioned for the super-specialty wing. A new police post will be opened at Nerchowk in Mandi district’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College, along with necessary staffing. The Cabinet also approved five Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts in the Police Department and five posts for the Digital Forensics facility at the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory in Dharamshala.

Under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme-2023, the Cabinet approved a 40 per cent subsidy for converting 1,000 petrol and diesel taxis into electric vehicles. It further decided to merge the Anti-Narcotics Task Force with the Special Task Force to create a unified Special Task Force under the Home Department. The aim is to enhance operational capacity and strengthen the fight against drug-related crimes. Approval was also granted to launch anti-drug campaigns at the Panchayat level.

To improve road safety, the Cabinet approved the purchase of ten electric bikes for highway patrolling.

A new Kanungo Circle will be created at Bankhandi in Kangra district by bifurcating Haripur Tehsil’s Haripur and Bilaspur circles.

The Forest Department has been authorised to issue letters of intent for mineral concessions on forest land.

The Cabinet expanded the Chief Minister Small Shopkeepers’ Welfare Scheme to include small urban shopkeepers and retailers with an annual turnover below Rs 10 lakh. Small shopkeepers whose accounts have turned NPA will receive a one-time settlement assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh through banks, which will be borne by the state government.