Himachal Cabinet approves filling of 7,500 posts, higher salary for ASHA workers

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on Monday approved several key decisions, including the filling of around 7,500 posts across various departments, an increase in the honorarium for ASHA workers, and measures to promote medical education. The meeting, which lasted over six hours, began at 11 am and continued beyond 5 pm.

Later, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan and Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma briefed the media on the decisions taken.

In the education sector, a major recruitment drive was approved, with 3,950 posts to be filled by appointing one watchman and one Multi-Task Worker in each of the state's 1,975 government senior secondary schools. Additionally, 200 Junior Office Assistants (Library) will be recruited. The Cabinet also granted a one-time relaxation of one year in the upper age limit for candidates applying for 800 posts of Constable in the Police Department.

The Cabinet approved an increase in the monthly stipend for postgraduate medical students: first-year students will receive Rs 50,000, second-year students Rs 60,000, and third-year students Rs 65,000. It also introduced BSc Medical Technology (Radiotherapy Technologist) and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy Technology courses, with 30 seats each at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. Doctors serving in the Radiodiagnosis departments at AIIMS Chamiyana and other government colleges will be exempted from field postings for six years.

Under the Teachers' Honour Policy, the cash award for National Award-winning teachers was increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, and for State Award-winning teachers from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh. However, award-winning teachers will no longer be eligible for service extension.

The Cabinet approved the establishment of an All India Institute of Ayurveda at Dhaneta, Hamirpur, on 75 acres of identified land. The Ayurvedic Health Centre at Rait (Kangra) will be upgraded to a sub-divisional Ayush Medical Office, and the Community Health Centre at Koti (Shimla) will be upgraded into a 10-bed hospital.

In rural development, part-time Panchayat chowkidars who completed 12 years of service between August 31, 2022, and March 31, 2026, will be converted into daily wage workers. The recruitment of 400 Multi-Task Workers in Gram Panchayats and the engagement of 280 job trainee technical assistants through Zila Parishads were also approved.

Under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, students from nursery to Class VIII in government schools will receive boiled eggs or seasonal fruits twice a week.

The Cabinet also approved the creation of 102 posts for the newly constituted Nurpur Police District and sanctioned additional posts of one head constable and four constables for the Galore police post in Hamirpur. Additionally, 48 new posts were created for the State Centre of Excellence for Sports at Nadaun, and equipment worth Rs 12.89 crore will be procured. Four coaches and a warden will be appointed at Thakur Ramlal Government Girls Sports School in Jubbal, while two skiing instructors and two mountaineering instructors will be recruited at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali.

For the fisheries sector, the Cabinet approved providing boats at 70% subsidy, fishing nets at 90% subsidy, and financial assistance of up to 70% for cold storage units, freeze-drying facilities, and refrigerated vans. It also launched the Chief Minister Fishermen Samman Nidhi Yojana, though details of the scheme were not immediately available.