HP Cabinet Rolls Out Major Benefits for Widows, Destitute Women, and More
Shimla, 25 August 2024: In a big move, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, gave the green light to the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana’ today.
This scheme is set to be a lifeline for widows, destitute women, divorced women, and disabled parents, providing them with better support to raise and educate their kids.
Under this plan, eligible children will get a monthly grant of Rs. 1,000 to cover their education, health, and nutrition until they turn 18.
The scheme doesn’t stop there—it also offers financial help for higher studies, covering everything from course fees to hostel charges for undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and vocational courses.
In another big decision, the Cabinet approved a 50% subsidy for buying e-taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-Up Yojana-2023.
After paying 10% margin money, applicants can expect the loan installment within three months.
UCO Bank has been named the Nodal Bank for sanctioning loans, while H.P. State Cooperative Bank, Jogindra Central Cooperative Bank, and Kangra Central Cooperative Bank are the preferred banks.
The loans will be available at an interest rate of 7.9% per annum.
The Cabinet also relaxed the age limit by six months for students already in nursery, LKG, and UKG during the 2023-24 academic year, allowing them to move up to the next class.
In a move that may ruffle some feathers, the Cabinet decided to hike the monthly concessional travel charges in HRTC buses from Rs. 110 to Rs. 500 for police personnel up to the rank of Inspector, jail officials (from Jail Warden to Non-Gazetted Executive Staff), and security guards of the H.P. Secretariat.
For better policing, the Cabinet approved setting up a new Sub-Divisional Police Office at Dadasiba, a police post at Alampur, and upgrading the Police Posts at Sansarpur Terrace and Moin to full-fledged Police Stations in Kangra district. They also greenlit the creation of new posts to get these offices up and running.
Further, the Cabinet okayed the opening of a new Jal Shakti Vibhag Circle at Dehra in Kangra district, along with a new Sub-Division and Section at Khad in Haroli, Una district.
They also approved a new Sub-Division of HPPWD at Khad in the Haroli area with the necessary posts.
On top of this, a fire post is set to open in the Ubadesh area of Gumma in Kotkhai, Shimla district, with the required staffing.
The health sector saw a boost with the Cabinet approving the recruitment of Assistant Professors in ENT and Psychiatry at Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan, in Sirmaur district.
They also okayed the purchase of 3 TESLA MRI machines for IGMC Shimla, Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialty Chamiyana, and Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur. Plus, two electric vehicles for emergency services at AIIMS Chamiyana and IGMC Shimla were approved.
Lastly, the Cabinet revised the free power royalty slabs, offering relief to power entrepreneurs.
The new slabs are set at 12%, 18%, and 30%, replacing the earlier 20%, 30%, and 40% rates.
These decisions are part of the state’s ongoing efforts to improve welfare and infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.
