CABINET CLEARS ‘APNA PARIVAR SUKI PARIVAR YOJNA’, UNIFORM RAW WATER POLICY, AND 222 SOLAR PROJECT CANCELLATIONS
SHIMLA:
In a massive administrative and political push, the Himachal Pradesh State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, met and cleared a sweeping umbrella of decisions.
Ranging from the formal launch of flagship election-manifesto guarantees to sweeping energy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and targeted electoral freebies ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, the government has set the stage for high-octane governance.
Unveiling the Flagship Welfare Guarantee
Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna: Fulfilling core Congress poll guarantees amidst a charged pre-election political climate, the Cabinet officially launched the scheme to provide targeted financial and utility relief.
Under this rollout, eligible women in the 18 to 59 age group will receive ₹1,500 per month, while eligible beneficiary families will get 300 units of free electricity, bringing an initial 3.50 lakh eligible women under the state's welfare umbrella.
This builds on prior enhancements where financial assistance for women above the age of 59 was already raised from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500 per month.
Reforming the State Energy and Water Grid
Raw Water Policy and Green Energy Overhaul: The Cabinet took major corrective measures in the state's lucrative hydro and green energy sectors by adopting a uniform state policy to determine and periodically revise rates for surplus raw water sold to neighboring states, agencies, and industries, establishing an initial benchmark rate of ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet indexed to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
Rewriting Long-Term Power Accords
Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy Amendments: Amendments were approved to provide 50 percent free power royalty for the first ten years after the completion of 40 years of operation for commissioned Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) projects, with ultimate free-of-cost transfer back to the State after 50 years.
Furthermore, to crack down on prolonged implementation delays, the Cabinet canceled the allotment of 222 solar power projects and 13 hydro-electric projects above 25 MW for non-compliance while setting parameters to re-bid 20 projects.
Bolstering Public Health Infrastructure
Healthcare Expansion and Medical Upgrades: To bolster health infrastructure, the government approved the engagement of 1,000 'Rogi Mitras' in the Health Department, created and filled 561 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts across government medical colleges, dental colleges, and the Directorate of Medical Education, and established a new Department of Geriatric Medicine with faculty positions at IGMC Shimla, Dr. RKGMC Tanda, and SLBSGMC Nerchowk. Additionally, emoluments for outsourced perfusionists in government medical colleges were hiked from ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 per month, and requisite posts were created for the Mother and Child Hospital Wing at Civil Hospital Nurpur (Kangra), Dr. RKGMC Hamirpur, and newly upgraded health institutions like Civil Hospital Haripurdhar (Sirmaur) and Civil Hospital Kotkhai (Shimla).
Expanding Rural Transport and Mobility
Enhanced Subsidies for Public Transport: Transport subsidies under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna, 2023 for operating passenger buses on identified intra-sub-division routes were increased from 30 percent to 40 percent.
Special financial incentives offering a 50 percent subsidy on electric buses and a 40 percent subsidy on diesel buses (with seating capacity above 10 passengers) were cleared for key specialized routes including Hamirpur Bus Stand to Dr. Radhakrishnan Medical College (Jolsapper) and New OPD IGMC Shimla to Atal Institute of Medical Super Speciality (Chamiyana).
Rewarding Growers and Farmers
Higher Support Prices for Ginger and Apples: In agriculture and horticulture, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown ginger was bumped up from ₹30 to ₹40 per kg, and C-grade apple procurement under the Market Intervention Scheme was enhanced from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg to directly benefit local cultivators.
Targeting Youth and Combating Substance Abuse
Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan: A statewide anti-drug initiative titled ‘Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026’ was cleared across all 12 districts to actively engage youth in sports, promote discipline, and combat substance abuse through positive community participation.
Streamlining Police and Administrative Recruitments
Offline Exams and Departmental Openings: In recruitment and governance, the administration granted a crucial one-time relaxation under Rule-11 of the Himachal Pradesh Police Department (Recruitment of Constables) Rules, 2024 to conduct written examinations for constables in offline mode instead of online.
Fresh departmental posts were also cleared, including 20 posts of JOA (IT) in the Rural Development Department, 15 posts of Stenographer Grade-III in various state courts, 4 posts of JOA (IT) and 1 Multi-Task Worker in the Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries Department, and 3 posts reserved under the 4 percent quota for Persons with Disabilities in the Youth Services and Sports Department.
Modernizing Citizen Services and Administration
Infrastructure and Civil Upgrades: Administrative expansion saw the upgrade of Police Post Baroh in Kangra district to a full-fledged Police Station, the opening of a new police post for Dr. Radhakrishnan Medical College Hamirpur, the creation of the office of Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) at Dadasiba in Kangra district, the leasing of 2.26 hectares of land for the Central School at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district, and the elevation of the district-level Phul Yatra Mela (Pangi, Chamba) to a State-level fair.
Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the implementation of the Registration Sewa Kendra Project to modernize existing Sub-Registrar Offices on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras, launching in its first phase across Solan, Shimla, Kangra, and Sirmaur districts.
