SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog, Yojana for small shopkeepers, rooftop solar plants and others stand out as key decisions taken by Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today.
One of the major decisions is the establishment of the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog, which will now oversee the recruitment of various Group-C posts under the State Government, PSUs, Boards, Corporations, Local Bodies, and more.
This move comes in place of the disbanded Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission Hamirpur.
The Cabinet also approved the 'Mukhyamantri Laghu Dukandar Kalyan Yojna-2023' and allocated a substantial sum of Rs. 40 crore under this scheme.
It will provide small entrepreneurs and skill-based workers, such as cobblers, tailors, barbers, mobile repair vendors, and fruit vendors, with better opportunities to access loans and support for their businesses.
To streamline administrative processes and facilitate the public, the Cabinet decided to introduce the Himachal Pradesh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2023, during the upcoming Monsoon session of the HP Vidhan Sabha.
This bill will address delayed decisions in Revenue Court cases and improve various revenue operations.
Furthermore, the Cabinet announced the third phase of the Himachal Pradesh Sadhbhawana Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme, 2023, scheduled from October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. This phase aims to settle pending assessment cases and arrears under GST that were either under litigation or yet to be assessed.
To optimize revenues, the Cabinet approved the establishment of a Single Energy Trading Desk, effective from the financial year 2024-25.
This desk will coordinate trading strategies and transactions of power for HPSEBL, HPPCL, and the Directorate of Energy.
In a bid to address energy shortfalls during lean periods, the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021, will be amended to encourage rooftop-based solar projects and contribute to power generation.
The Cabinet also took steps to benefit the education sector by increasing the honorarium for SMC teachers and part-time water carriers in the Education Department. Additionally, the Police Department will see an augmentation with the filling of 1226 Constable posts, including male and female constables, as well as constable drivers.
The Industries Department will intensify efforts to combat illegal mining activities by filling 12 posts of Mining Inspector, 24 posts of Assistant Mining Inspector, and 38 posts of Mining Guard.
In the Horticulture Department, 50 posts of Horticulture Extension Officers will be filled to enhance the sector's development.
Moreover, the Cabinet sanctioned the filling of 10 posts of Statistics Assistant in the Economic and Statistics Department.
In the healthcare sector, Dr. Radhakrishanan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, will witness the creation and filling of 8 posts of Associate and Assistant Professors in various departments. Additionally, one post of Assistant Professor will be established in IGMC Shimla to provide specialized medical services.
In Una district, the Police Post Tahliwal will be upgraded to a Police Station, accompanied by the creation and filling of 14 posts across different categories.
Lastly, the Cabinet increased the maximum limit of expenditure for sanctioned schemes under the Nucleus Budget Rules for the tribal areas, from one lakh to three lakh rupees, aimed at the welfare and development of the local tribal communities.
