Himachal Cabinet Clears Pashu Mitra Policy, Green Push and Job Boost
Shimla, 19 May 2025:
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, took several key decisions today aimed at boosting employment, animal care, green cover and public service delivery across departments.
One of the major highlights was the approval of the Pashu Mitra Policy-2025, under which 1,000 posts of Multi-Task Workers (Pashu Mitras) will be filled in the Animal Husbandry Department, strengthening grassroots veterinary services in the state.
The Cabinet also cleared 100 posts of Junior Office Assistant (Library) in the Education Department to ensure the smooth functioning of school libraries.
In a further employment push, it approved the creation of 10 posts of Senior Assistant and 15 Junior Office Assistant (IT) in the Revenue Department, while also giving a go-ahead to fill five posts in the H.P. State Transport Appellate Tribunal, Hamirpur, and five posts of Ayurvedic Pharmacy Officers in the Ayush Department on a batch-wise basis.
Giving relief to cow shelters, the Cabinet enhanced the monthly fodder grant for Gauvansh in Gausadans from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1200 per cattle, a significant step towards better care of stray and abandoned cattle.
In a major financial upgrade for health staff, the monthly honorarium for Operation Theatre Assistants has been raised from Rs. 17,820 to Rs. 25,000, and for Radiographers and X-Ray Technicians, from Rs. 13,100 to Rs. 25,000.
On the green front, the Cabinet launched the Mukhya Mantri Green Adoption Yojna, which allows private entrepreneurs to undertake plantations on degraded forest lands under CSR, aiming to improve the actual forest cover in Himachal.
To preserve Shimla’s scenic beauty, amendments were approved to the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014, restricting construction on the valley side in Shimla Municipal Corporation area. All such constructions must now be at least one metre below road level.
In another green push, the Cabinet decided to bring the adjoining forest of Mata Tara Devi Temple under the Shimla Development Plan’s green area, ensuring its sustainable development.
The Cabinet also approved comprehensive guidelines for hiring e-taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-Up Yojna-2023, promoting eco-friendly transport and self-employment.
In a structural reform, it merged the design wing with the civil wing in the Public Works Department (PWD) to improve efficiency and coordination.
Finally, the veterinary dispensary at Sarahan in Kullu district’s Nirmand block will now be officially known as Veterinary Dispensary Baga Sarahan.
These decisions reflect the government’s focus on sustainability, employment, and better governance delivery.
