Shimla, Aug 25,
In a move to boost economic growth and sustainable development, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved a reduction in free power royalty slabs, offering much-needed relief to entrepreneurs in the power sector. The decision revises the current slabs from 20%, 30%, and 40% to 12%, 18%, and 30% respectively, easing the financial burden on companies and encouraging further investment in the state’s power industry.
Additionally, the Cabinet has taken a substantial step towards promoting eco-friendly transportation by approving a 50% subsidy for the purchase of e-taxis under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-Up Yojana-2023. Eligible candidates can avail this subsidy within three months, after depositing a 10% margin and the bank disbursing the first installment of the loan. UCO Bank has been designated as the Nodal Bank for sanctioning loans, with H.P. State Cooperative Bank, Jogindra Central Cooperative Bank, and Kangra Central Cooperative Bank serving as preferred banks. The loans will be offered at an interest rate of 7.9% per annum, making the scheme financially accessible to aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Cabinet also approved the launch of the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana’, a new welfare scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to widows, destitute women, divorced women, and disabled parents for the education and upbringing of their children. Eligible children will receive a monthly grant of Rs. 1,000 until they turn 18, along with additional financial support for higher education, covering costs for courses, hostel fees, and vocational training.
In the education sector, the Cabinet granted a six-month age relaxation for students enrolled in nursery, LKG, and UKG during the 2023-24 academic year, enabling them to advance to the next grade.
For law enforcement and public safety, the Cabinet approved several key initiatives, including the establishment of a new Sub-Divisional Police Office at Dadasiba, a police post at Alampur, and the upgradation of Police Posts at Sansarpur Terrace and Moin to full-fledged Police Stations in Kangra district. These moves are intended to bolster the state’s security infrastructure and improve response times in these regions.
Also the Cabinet of ministers decided to increase the monthly charges for concessional travel in HRTC buses from Rs. 110 to Rs. 500 per month for police personnel up to the rank of Inspector, jail officials (from Jail Warden to Executive Staff of Non-Gazetted rank), and security guards of the H.P. Secretariat.
Further decisions included the opening of a new Jal Shakti Vibhag Circle at Dehra and a new Sub-Division and Section at Khad in the Haroli constituency of Una district, alongside the creation of necessary posts to operationalize these units. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of a new Sub-Division of HPPWD at Khad in Haroli, and the opening of a fire post at Ubadesh area Gumma in Kotkhai, Shimla district.
In the healthcare sector, the Cabinet authorized the filling of one Assistant Professor position each in the ENT and Psychiatry departments at Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan, and approved the procurement of 3 TESLA MRI machines for key medical institutions, including IGMC Shimla and AIIMS Chamiyana. Moreover, two electric vehicles each will be provided for emergency services at AIIMS Chamiyana and IGMC Shimla, enhancing the state’s emergency response capabilities.
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