Cabinet Decisions: 700 Home Guards to Be Recruited in Himachal, Contract Panchayat Secretaries to Be Regularised

Shimla, May 31:
In a key meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved several major policy decisions on Saturday, aimed at strengthening the state’s security, healthcare, education, and Panchayati Raj systems.

Among the notable decisions, the Cabinet approved the creation and recruitment of 700 new Home Guard positions, primarily for deployment in government hospitals and medical colleges across the state. This move is intended to bolster the security infrastructure at critical health institutions.

The Cabinet also gave the green light to regularise the services of around 200 contract Panchayat Secretaries serving under the District Council (Zila Parishad) cadre. Once regularised, their monthly salaries will increase from ₹12,000 to ₹32,000, providing financial stability and acknowledging their continued service.

In another administrative shift, the government has decided to relocate the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamshala, enhancing accessibility and administrative focus in the region.

Further strengthening the education sector, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a new Block Education Office in the Baddi industrial area, which is expected to accelerate educational planning and implementation in this rapidly developing zone.

Cabinet Ministers Harshwardhan Chauhan and Yadvinder Goma briefed the media on the decisions, noting that the term of existing Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives ends in December 2025. The upcoming elections will see the implementation of a new reservation roster, as per the 15-year cycle followed for rotation of seats under the reservation system.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved relaxations in eligibility criteria for Senior Residency (SR) in IGMC Shimla and other government medical colleges, thereby creating more opportunities for young doctors to serve in the state’s healthcare system.