The State Cabinet in its meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu decided to allow Transport Department to issue necessary permission for conversion of 1000 existing diesel/petrol taxis into electric taxis with provision of 40 percent subsidy under Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Yojna.
The Cabinet gave its nod to enhance honorarium of Special Police Officers at the rate of Rs. 300 per month with effect from 1st April, 2025 which would benefit 510 SPOs of the State including 403 in non tribal areas and 107 of the tribal areas. The Cabinet accorded ex-post facto approval for enhancement of honorarium of Rs. 500 per month of SMC teachers (TGT, C&V,JBT, Lecturers, DPEs) , IT Computer Teachers, Mid-Day Meal Workers and Part Time Water Carriers with effect from 1st April, 2025 as per the announcement of the Chief Minister.
It approved the proposal to streamline implementation and efficient monitoring mechanism of Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojna and H.P Crop Diversification Project (JICA-Phase-II) in the State. This mechanism will go a long way in fostering coherence between the departments, SPNF and JICA besides ensuring efficient governance and execution with expected outcomes envisaged under the flagship programmes of the projects.
It decided to constitute a Cabinet Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi to finalize the draft of Rural Area Development guidelines to be adopted by Gram Panchayats in the form of Model By-laws to regulate the construction activities in the rural areas. Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh and Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharamani will be the members of this Cabinet Sub Committee.
It gave its approval to include 19 games in the list of games which qualify meritorious sportspersons for consideration for appointment to Group-A,B,C and D posts/ services under the State Government Departments, Boards, Corporations etc. These games include Baseball, para sports, Rugby Triathlon, Deaf sports, Mallakhamb, Kudo, Motor Sports, Pencak Silat, Shooting Ball, Soft Tennis, Roll Ball, Tenpin Bowling, Tug-of-war, fencing Netball, Sepak Takraw, Wushu and kickboxing.
The Cabinet approved to create a separate and specific State Cadre for Junior Office Assistant (IT) under the Directorate of Recruitment by creating 300 posts as Job Trainee in the first phase. The approval was given for construction of Nahan Medical College at newly selected land for expansion of this college.
The Cabinet agreed to grant ex-post facto permission for new post graduation and super specialty courses to regulate admissions in these courses in the department of Medical Education and Research. The Cabinet approved the proposal of Health Department to shift 32 newly created posts of Assistant Professors in the respective Super Specialty Departments of IGMC, Shimla, Dr. RPGMC, Tanda, SLBSGMC Ner Chowk and Dr. RKGMC Hamirpur to the department of Emergency Medicines in the concerned Medical Colleges and under the establishment of Directorate of Medical Education.
It also gave nod to framing of new Resident Doctors Policy-2025. The Cabinet accorded, in principle, approval for the proposal of the Health Department for framing Policy/Scheme to regulate appointment of Assistant Staff Nurse. It also approved the amendments in the scheme for setting up Ground Mounted Solar Power Projects with interest subsidy for bonafide Himachalis.
This scheme will be now named as Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Saur Urja Yojna for setting up ground mounted solar power projects ranging from 100 KW to 2 MW in tribal and non tribal areas with interest subsidy. For setting up of 100 KW to 2 MW solar power projects in tribal areas five percent interest subsidy will be provided by the Government whereas provision has been made to provide four percent interest subsidy in non tribal areas.
The Cabinet accorded approval to carry out amendments in Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014 with reference to Scheme for Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment- 2025-26. The Cabinet gave its approval to establish a Tourism Investment Promotion Council (TIPC) which would work on a mechanism to attract, evaluate and facilitate tourism investments efficiently and transparently.
It decided to designate HP General Industries Corporation as nodal agency for procurement, storage, transport, quality testing and supply of Extra Neutral Alcohol, rectified and all kinds of spirits used by Pharma units in the State. The Cabinet gave its approval to allow 15 days paternity leave to male contract employees in the State.
The decision was taken to open three new Government Primary Schools in Solan district at Haripur Sandholi-II, Surajmajra Lubana and Chkkan in Block Baddi which fulfill all required criteria for opening new schools. The Cabinet approved amendments in Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojna with a view to benefit maximum students of the State. As per the amendment, the facility of education loan at one percent interest rate will also be given for pursuing Post Graduation.
Moreover the income limit of the family of the beneficiary student has been enhanced from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh per annum.