SHIMLA-6^th May, 2025

CM directs to clear employment on compassionate backlog within a year

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed to clear the backlog of employment on compassionate grounds within a period of one year. While presiding over a high level meeting on Compassionate Employment Policy here today, the Chief Minister said that income criteria will be raised from Rs. 2.50 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh per annum. He said that the backlog of compassionate employment will be cleared in three phases and directed to give priority to the widows and orphans below the age of 45 years. At present, there are 141 widows and 159 orphans falling in this criterion.

Sh. Sukhu said that in the second phase eligible individuals falling in the low income group would be given priority for compassionate employment and the remaining candidates will be offered jobs in the third phase.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, Secretaries M. Sudha Devi and Rakesh Kanwar and Secretary Law Sharad Kumar Lagwal were also present in the meeting.

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Souvenir Released by CM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu releasing a Souvenir brought out by Him Sports and Cultural Association at Shimla on 6th May, 2025. Speaker H. P. Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan and Secretary Vidhan Sabha Yashpal Sharma were also present on the occasion.

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SHIMLA -6^th May, 2025

H.P. Cabinet Decisions

The State Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today, approved the inclusion of domestic working women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behana Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna. Women who have completed a minimum of 100 days as domestic help, along with their daughters aged 21 years and above, will now be eligible for benefits under the scheme and receive Rs. 1500 per month as pension.

It approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown crops in the state. The MSP for naturally grown wheat has been raised from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 per kilogram and for maize from Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 per kilogram. Additionally, the Cabinet okayed the MSP for naturally grown raw turmeric at Rs. 90 per kilogram and for barley from the Pangi block in Chamba district at Rs. 60 per kilogram. It was also decided to declare Pangi as the first Natural Farming Sub-Division of the state.

The Cabinet gave its nod to allot 422 stage carriage routes in favour of private operators to offer efficient transport services to the people of the State and provide self employment opportunities to the unemployed youth.

To address the problem of roadside parking and congestion, the Cabinet gave its nod to open the feasible closed basement floor for parking purposes. If the designated parking floor is used for any purpose other than parking the concerned will be levied with heavy penalty and will have to restore the floor for parking purpose.

The Cabinet approved the establishment of Nephrology, Neurology, and Gastroenterology departments at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur, along with the creation and filling of 118 posts across various categories to ensure their smooth functioning.

It decided to fill up 43 posts of various technical vacancies under different Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the State.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to open a new division of the Jal Shakti Vibhag at Sujanpur in Hamirpur district.

The Cabinet approved new Home Stay Policy and decided to fix the registration fee for homestays in Pangi Sub Division of Chamba district at 50 percent of the standard rate.

It also approved the upgradation of the Ayurvedic Health Centre at Kosari in the Jaisinghpur assembly segment of Kangra district to a 10-bedded Ayurvedic Hospital, along with the creation and filling of necessary posts.

Additionally, the Cabinet gave its approval to upgrade the Primary Health Centre at Panjawar in Una district to a Community Health Centre, with the required staff positions to be created and filled.

The Cabinet decided to provide relief in water tariffs to residents of the newly constituted 14 Nagar Panchayats and the merged areas of the upgraded Municipal Corporations of Hamirpur, Una and Baddi, as well as the Municipal Councils of Nadaun and Baijnath-Paprola. The decision also covers areas recently included in the Municipal Councils of Jwalamukhi, Dehra, Paonta Sahib and the Nagar Panchayat of Jwali. These areas will continue to be charged water tariffs at rural rates for the next three years.

The Cabinet gave its approval to merge seven State of Art (SOA) ITIs in ITIs and seven women ITIs in ITIs across the State. The SOA Government ITI Ghumarwin merged in Government ITI Ghumarwin, SOA Govt. ITI Garnota in Govt. ITI Garnota, SOA Govt. ITI Shamshi in Govt. Shamshi, SOA Govt. ITI Sunni in Govt. ITI Sunni, SOA Govt. ITI Nahan at Paonta Sahib in Govt. ITI Nahan, SOA Govt. ITI Gagret in Govt. ITI Bhaderkali and SOA Govt. ITI Sundernagar in Govt. ITI (PWD) Sundernagar. It also merged Govt. ITI Bilaspur (Women) in Govt. ITI Bilaspur, Govt. ITI Nahan (Women) in Govt. ITI Nahan, Govt. ITI Chamba (Women) in Govt. ITI Chamba, Govt. ITI ReckongPeo (Women) in Govt. ITI ReckongPeo, Govt. ITI Mandi (Women) in Govt. ITI Mandi, Govt. ITI Shimla (Women) in Govt. ITI Shimla and Govt. ITI Una (Women) in Govt. ITI. Una.

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SHIMLA- 6^th May, 2025

ECI initiates direct dialogue with political parties to strengthen electoral process

In a move to promote meaningful engagement with stakeholders, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated direct consultations with national and state-level political parties. This effort was part of the Commission’s broader vision to enhance the electoral process through inclusive dialogue and participatory democracy.

The initiative provides a platform for party presidents to share their concerns, suggestions and feedback directly with the Commission, reinforcing transparency and collaboration within the democratic framework.

As part of its ongoing outreach the ECI has previously facilitated over 4,700 all-party meetings nationwide, engaging more than 28,000 representatives to ensure wider consultation and cooperation in electoral matters.

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SHIMLA-6^th May, 2025

CM directs to expedite principal promotion process

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while chairing a high-level meeting of the Education Department has directed the officers to expedite the promotion process of the posts of the Principal in Government Senior Secondary Schools here today. He said that the welfare of employees has always been the top most priority of the present state government and the government was making all possible efforts in this direction.

The Chief Minister said that government employees play a crucial role in the development of the State, and it was therefore imperative to ensure that they receive their due benefits in a timely manner. He said that the state government was bringing about several positive reforms in the education sector with the aim of providing quality education to students. The results of these reforms were visible and the state has made a remarkable improvement in national education rankings. He said that the teachers of the state were playing important role in realizing the aim of providing best quality education to the students.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that since assuming office the state government has undertaken several innovative initiatives to strengthen the education sector and foster holistic development among students. As a result of these efforts, education system of the state was now being recognized and appreciated at the national level.

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SHIMLA -6 May, 2025

Use of 500 ml PET bottles to be banned in State from 1st June:Chief Secretary

• Dustbins made mandatory in all public and private transport

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena today said that from 1^st June 2025, the use of 500 ml plastic water bottles made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) will be banned in all government programmes and hotels across Himachal Pradesh. He said that the decision has been taken in view of the environmental damage caused by plastic waste.

Presiding over a meeting held in this regard, the Chief Secretary said that as per Section 3-C (1) of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 and the amended Act of 2023, the use of single-use PET bottles will be prohibited in internal official meetings, conferences and events organized by all government departments, boards, corporations and related bodies. The restriction will also apply to Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation hotels and private hotels.

He said that glass bottles, water dispensers, kiosks, or stainless steel containers will be used as an alternative. Any violation of these provisions may invite fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 25,000 under the relevant laws and regulations.

The Chief Secretary also instructed departments including Environment, Science & Technology and Climate Change, Urban Development, Tourism, Education and the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board to carry out widespread awareness campaigns to discourage the use of small PET bottles. He also directed to take necessary steps to strengthen recycling of single-use plastic waste in the state.

In another major initiative for improved plastic waste management, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena said that it will now be mandatory to install dustbins in all public and private transport vehicles in Himachal Pradesh, including taxis and tourist vehicles.

He said that incidents of littering from vehicles have been observed across the state, causing pollution and clogging of drains. To curb this disposal of waste into public drains or sewerage has been prohibited under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Section 3-C (1) of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995. Accordingly, it has been made compulsory to install dustbins in all transport services operating in the state.

A fine of up to Rs. 1,500 will be imposed for littering or serving food in plastic containers and a penalty of Rs.10,000 would be levied for failing to provide a dustbin in transport vehicles.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for a dedicated public awareness campaign to sensitize both residents and tourists about these measures. He also directed bus stand authorities and public parking owners to ensure proper waste collection facilities are in place.

Senior officials from various departments were present in the meeting.