Shimla, 16th November: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, took major decisions today to transform urban governance across the state.
Three Municipal Councils of Una, Baddi and Hamirpur will now be upgraded to Municipal Corporations, while two Nagar Panchayats will get promoted to Municipal Councils.
Adding to this, six new Nagar Panchayats will be created, marking a significant step in decentralizing urban administration.
In a move to enhance urban development, the Cabinet also approved the inclusion of additional areas under the jurisdiction of various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), ensuring better infrastructure and governance for expanding towns.
Financial Boost for Workers and the Elderly
The Cabinet greenlit a hike in honorarium for Multi-Task Workers in the Public Works Department, raising it from ₹4,500 to ₹5,000 per month.
Additionally, elderly citizens aged 70 and above will now be included under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, with an extra top-up health cover of ₹5 lakh per year for those already registered.
Empowering Women and Children
Widows, single destitute, and divyang women earning less than ₹2.5 lakh annually will receive ₹3 lakh in financial aid to construct houses, while abandoned and surrendered children will be supported under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana until the age of 27.
Infrastructure and Job Creation
The Cabinet approved creating and filling 30 Senior Resident Doctor posts and 326 ancillary staff positions at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. A new police post will also be established at the college, adding seven posts to ensure campus security.
Other notable job-related decisions included filling 25 Assistant State Taxes and Excise Officer positions, 28 posts in the Fisheries Department, and various new roles in Rajya Chayan Aayog, Block Medical Office Dehra, and CHC Gumma, Shimla.
Push for Education and Industry
The Cabinet took a futuristic step by introducing M.Tech in Electric Vehicle Technology at Government Hydro Engineering College, Bilaspur, and a diploma in Computer Engineering and Internet of Things at Government Polytechnic, Hamirpur.
On the industry front, a winery will be set up by HIMFED at Parala in Shimla, promising better earnings for apple growers and job opportunities for locals.
Decongesting Shimla
In a bid to ease the overcrowding in Shimla, the office of the H.P. Building and Other Construction Welfare Board will be relocated to Hamirpur.
