Himachal Pradesh’s cabinet, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, convened a pivotal session at the state secretariat, setting the tone for a crucial transition in the hill state’s governance and developmental trajectory. The meeting, attended by senior ministers and top bureaucrats, marked a significant step towards expanding essential public services, enhancing disaster resilience, and revamping the delivery of critical healthcare and education in the wake of a record-breaking monsoon that had exposed weaknesses and urgent needs across districts. Chief among the agenda items was a major reform and expansion of health services in rural and tribal pockets. The Cabinet approved fresh recruitment of nearly 290 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, aiming to boost essential health outreach, vaccine delivery, maternal and child care, and disease control in vulnerable and difficult-to-access geographies. This policy came as the state’s health infrastructure faces severe stress from recent landslides, floods, outbreaks of water-borne diseases, and growing non-communicable health concerns. With new ASHA workers and medical laboratory technicians sanctioned, the government hopes to provide more regular immunization drives, health education, and rapid response during medical emergencies—particularly as monsoon disruptions often block roads and reduce access to clinics for entire weeks. Simultaneously, the Cabinet approved the upcoming cycle of competitive government recruitments, including posts for TGT and JBT teachers, proofreaders, technical assistants, horticulture extension officers, and scientific staff—offering relief for thousands of aspirants whose careers had been delayed during disaster seasons and the COVID-19 years. The Rajya Chayan Aayog announced a one-time two-year relaxation in age limits for certain posts, and a new advertising blitz has begun to encourage applications from tribal and rural applicants to reflect the state’s push for inclusive and regionally sensitive workforce expansion. Budget matters underscored the session, with the Cabinet reviewing implementation of the ₹62,387 crore state budget passed earlier in the year, alongside new appropriations and supplementary allocations for emergency infrastructure restoration in battered districts like Bilaspur, Mandi, and Shimla. Notably, more than ₹1.33 crore was cleared for urgent restoration projects—mainly targeted at rebuilding water supply pipelines, transformer networks, damaged school buildings, and rural health centers knocked out during recent landslides. Financial orders prioritized no new taxes and continued increases in dearness allowances for employees and pensioners, reflecting sensitivity to economic stress felt by state workers after back-to-back years of disaster and inflation. Education sector reforms were front and center. The Cabinet adopted new inspection norms and digital record upgrades for school and college facilities, designed to catch safety deficiencies before sudden weather disruptions force closures, and make relief distribution faster through verified, digitized beneficiary lists. In parallel, hundreds of schools affected by floods and slides were sanctioned for speedy repair grants, and fresh funds were allocated to remote learning backups, so online classes could continue for mountain communities where road access remains intermittent. Other notable cabinet decisions included approval to withdraw outdated pay-level notifications affecting over 2,000 government posts, formation of a Backward Classes Commission to refine quota distribution before the upcoming urban local body elections, and reserving seats for orphaned children across technical institutions and higher education—a step widely hailed for its social touch amid disaster recovery. The cabinet gave final clearance to phase-II of the Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme, allowing pending VAT and construction equipment disputes to be regularized under relaxed terms for three months, helping thousands of small business owners and rural entrepreneurs hit by last season’s shutdowns. Responding to ongoing roadblocks and landslips, the Public Works Department received accelerated funding and a new mandate to divert vacant government buildings—especially in less-populated high-altitude areas—to essential functions like mobile clinics, women’s shelters, and disaster command posts. This plan, crafted by the Technical Education Minister’s cabinet subcommittee, will be implemented in phases, leveraging state assets toward grassroots needs. To boost tourism and economic recovery, the cabinet signed off on the establishment of a new Investment Promotion Council chaired by the Chief Minister. Projects over ₹50 crore will get expedited clearances, with time-limited processing of paperwork and subsidies, aiming to attract investment in sustainable hospitality, adventure tourism, and food processing, even as old market routes await repairs. The session ended with directives for the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) to streamline subsidized travel via the new HIM BUS CARD, benefitting students, elderly residents, and those displaced by landslides who need alternate transport as highways are repaired. Throughout, reflective governance underscored the day. Ministers repeatedly referenced lessons learned during the monsoon—between hampered logistics and unprecedented environmental challenges—and the need for “nimble administration” to speed up government response in ongoing crises. Constituency members from twelve districts, appearing via video link, advocated tailored governance, rapid disaster recovery grants, and regionally sensitive service delivery, ensuring real-time coverage of both grassroots and state-level priorities. As media and opposition watch closely, analysts note this cabinet session could define the direction of Himachal Pradesh’s social and economic revival for the coming year.
This is a web generated news report.
