The Himachal Pradesh government has taken several important decisions in its latest Cabinet meeting held under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. One of the key decisions was to regularise the services of contractual employees who have completed two years of continuous service by March 31, 2025.
In a similar move, daily wage workers and contingent paid workers who have completed four years of continuous service by the same date will also be regularised. This step aims to provide job security and stability to thousands of employees who have been serving the government for years on temporary terms.
In another significant development, the Cabinet approved a temporary management contract with East India Hotels Ltd for operating Hotel Wildflower Hall in Mashobra. This contract will not only ensure the maintenance and protection of the hotel property but also generate a monthly revenue of Rs 1.77 crore for the state government until a new operator is selected through a proper bidding or e-auction process. To boost government revenue, the Cabinet also decided to re-auction 400 remaining liquor shops individually and approved several revenue-enhancing proposals put forth by a sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.
The Cabinet also focused on improving healthcare facilities in the state. It approved the recommendations of a committee led by Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil to strengthen Rogi Kalyan Samitis. These include setting up high-tech laboratories in all government medical colleges and providing free diagnostic services like lab tests and X-rays to orphans, widows and their children, single women (ekal nari), and destitute women. With these additions, the total number of categories eligible for free diagnostic services has increased from 11 to 14.
To encourage the use of electric vehicles, the state will install 402 new EV charging stations at various government buildings including Circuit Houses, Rest Houses, PWD and Jal Shakti Department offices, as well as the offices of Deputy Commissioners and SPs. In the field of healthcare staffing, the Cabinet approved a substantial hike in the monthly stipend of Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists, raising it from the current Rs 60,000–65,000 to Rs 1,00,000. Super-specialists will now receive Rs 1.30 lakh per month.
Additionally, the Cabinet gave the green signal for setting up 50-bed Critical Care Blocks at the Regional Hospital in Swahan village, Bilaspur district, and the Civil Hospital in Rohru, Shimla district. These blocks will be equipped with essential medical equipment to handle emergency and critical cases. The state government also decided to implement the Himachal Pradesh Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 in all urban local bodies, including seven municipal corporations, 17 municipal councils, and 23 nagar panchayats, to prevent wall defacement and maintain cleanliness in public places.
Lastly, responding to long-pending demands, the Cabinet approved an increase in the minimum bus fare from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for both state-run and private buses. This fare hike is aimed at supporting private operators and improving transportation services across the state.
