HP Cabinet: 1,000 rogi mitras to ensure patient care, Kangra to get new Kanungo Circle
Approval was granted to conduct the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for promoting 805 principals in government schools, to be chaired by the Secretary (Education).
4 min readShimlaUpdated: Nov 25, 2025 09:48 AM IST
During his Delhi visit, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu held discussions with senior party leaders about the organisational affairs of the Himachal Congress. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra)
The Himachal Cabinet also decided to engage 1,000 ‘rogi mitras’ in the Health Department to ensure better patient care in the health institutions across the state and offer a 40 per cent subsidy for converting 1,000 petrol and diesel taxis into electric vehicles.
The Cabinet presided over by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu decided to enhance the compensation for loss of household articles for disaster-affected families from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh and also approved Rs 4.32 crore to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for providing helicopter services during disasters in the state.
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.
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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.
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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.
Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting.
Professional Background
Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters.
Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India.
Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh:
1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth.
2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025).
3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025)
4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025)
Legal & Agricultural Affairs
"Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned.
"Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
3. Governance & Environment
"Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act.
"Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters.
Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc:
crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023)
Signature Beats
Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs.
X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar
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