Himachal Cabinet Clears Major Reforms in Health, Policing, Social Welfare and Rural Employment

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has approved a wide set of reforms across health, policing, disaster management, social security, and infrastructure—reflecting the government’s push to strengthen public services and address systemic gaps that have emerged in recent months.

One of the most significant decisions was the approval to recruit 1,000 Rogi Mitras in government health institutions to improve patient care. The Cabinet also cleared the recruitment of 800 constables in the Police Department.

In a major relief measure, the government increased compensation for disaster-hit families: assistance for loss of household items has been raised from ₹70,000 to ₹1 lakh, while families whose homes are fully damaged in fire incidents will now receive a special relief package of ₹7 lakh.

The Cabinet approved 150 days of employment under MNREGA, providing crucial support to rural households. It also cleared the construction of retaining walls worth up to ₹2 lakh for vulnerable areas prone to landslides and erosion.

To address environmental and mining-related challenges, the Forest Department has been authorized to issue Letters of Intent for mineral concessions on forest land—aimed at enabling sand and gravel dredging along riverbeds where excess deposition has contributed to repeated monsoon damage.

For emergency response, the Cabinet approved a ₹4.32 crore payment to the Indian Air Force for helicopter services used during disasters. It also sanctioned new sub-fire stations at Kandaghat (Solan) and Rajgarh (Sirmour).

The government further approved filling 150 Junior Engineer (Civil) posts in the Jal Shakti and Public Works Departments. In the health sector, the Cabinet cleared the creation of nine new super-speciality departments with 73 teaching and specialist posts at Government Medical College, Hamirpur, and added 27 senior resident posts in the super-speciality wing of GMC Tanda.

A major social welfare decision removed the earlier restriction that excluded disabled individuals from social security pensions if their guardians were government employees or pensioners. Now, all persons with 40% or higher disability will receive the benefit.

In the transport sector, the Cabinet approved a 40% subsidy to convert 1,000 petrol and diesel taxis into electric vehicles under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme (2023). It also sanctioned the procurement of 10 electric bikes for highway patrolling.

To strengthen the fight against drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force will now be merged with the Special Task Force under the Home Department, creating a unified body.

Small retailers also received relief as the government extended the Mukhyamantri Laghu Dukandaar Kalyan Yojana to urban shopkeepers with an annual turnover below ₹10 lakh. Distressed shopkeepers with NPAs will receive a one-time settlement of up to ₹1 lakh, fully funded by the state.

The Cabinet also approved the reorganization of the Bamson and Hamirpur development blocks and converted Government College, Hamirpur into a dedicated science college. Additionally, it sanctioned a four-year integrated B.Ed. programme for the Government College of Teacher Education, Dharamshala, and colleges in Nadaun, Chail Koti, and Tikkar. Finally, it cleared the convening of DPCs to expedite the promotion of 805 principals.