HP Cabinet Decisions: Early Release for Well-Behaved Prisoners, ₹1,500 Monthly Aid for Domestic Workers
CM Sukhu chairing the meeting
Shimla, May 6: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, held a meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday where several public welfare and development-oriented decisions were taken.
Early Release of Prisoners on Probation
One of the key decisions involved reforms in the prison system. Inmates demonstrating good conduct will now be eligible for early release on probation. However, their activities will be monitored post-release. If found involved in any unlawful acts, they will be re-arrested and made to serve the remainder of their sentence. The move is aimed at supporting the social reintegration of prisoners.
Minimum Support Price Hike for Natural Farming Produce
To promote natural farming, the Cabinet approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops, aligning with the Chief Minister’s budget announcements. The new MSP rates are as follows: ₹60/kg for natural wheat, ₹40/kg for maize, ₹90/kg for raw turmeric, and ₹60/kg for barley grown in the Pangi region. Additionally, Pangi has been declared the state’s first “Natural Farming Sub-Division.”
Monthly Financial Support for Domestic Workers
The Cabinet approved the inclusion of domestic women workers under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. Women who have worked as domestic helpers for at least 100 days and have daughters aged 21 or above will receive ₹1,500 per month as a pension.
422 New Stage Carriage Routes & Basement Parking Regulation
To improve transport connectivity and generate employment, 422 stage carriage routes will be allocated to private operators. In urban planning, the Cabinet permitted the use of closed basement floors for parking to ease roadside congestion. Heavy penalties will be imposed if these spaces are used for purposes other than parking, and they must be restored for that use.
Healthcare Upgrades in Multiple Districts
In a boost to healthcare services, approval was granted to open nephrology, neurology, and gastroenterology departments at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. This will involve the creation of 118 new posts. The Ayurvedic health centre at Kosri in Kangra will be upgraded to a 10-bed hospital, and the primary health centre at Panjavar in Una district will be elevated to a community health centre.
Affordable Urban Water Tariffs Extended
To support recently upgraded urban areas, towns like Hamirpur, Una, Baddi, Nadaun, Baijnath-Paprola, Jawalamukhi, Dehra, Paonta Sahib, and Jwali will continue to receive water at rural rates for the next three years.
Boost to Tourism Through New Homestay Policy
The Cabinet approved a new homestay policy to promote tourism, with a special incentive for residents of Pangi subdivision in Chamba. The registration fee for homestays in this region will be set at 50% of the standard rate.
Rationalization of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
To streamline operations, the Cabinet approved the merger of seven State-of-the-Art (SoA) ITIs and seven women’s ITIs into nearby existing government ITIs. This includes SoA ITIs in Ghumarwin, Garnota, Shamshi, Sunni, Nahan-Paonta Sahib, Gagret, and Sundernagar. Women’s ITIs in Bilaspur, Nahan, Chamba, Reckong Peo, Mandi, Shimla, and Una will also be merged into their respective main campuses.
These decisions reflect the state government’s emphasis on inclusive development, administrative efficiency, and social welfare.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
