Shimla, July 25
In a State cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today, several significant decisions were made, including the closure of government schools with zero enrolment, annual transfer of teaching staff, and the formation of Cabinet sub-committees to handle various legal, HPSEB, and compassionate appointment matters.
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved the closure of 89 Government Primary Schools and 10 Middle Schools with zero enrollment. Additionally, it decided to merge Government Primary Schools within a 2-kilometer radius and Government Middle Schools within a 3-kilometer radius if they have five or fewer students. Teaching staff in the education department will now be transferred annually at the end of the academic session, and all teachers, including Head Teachers, Centre Head Teachers, Headmasters, and Principals, will be required to teach students.
Three Cabinet Sub Committees were constituted: one for arbitration and court matters, chaired by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh as members; another to address HPSEB issues, headed by Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharamani with Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma as a member; and a third for compassionate appointments, chaired by Education Minister Rohit Thakur with Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharamani and Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma as members.
The Cabinet recommended the Governor convene the Monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha from August 27 to September 9, 2024, in Shimla, with 10 sittings planned.
Further, the Cabinet decided to create Police District Dehra with its headquarters at Dehra, including the creation and filling of 39 posts across different categories. Police Posts Dadasiba and Majheen were upgraded to Police Stations, and additional posts were created for the newly established Police Post Jwalamukhi City and Police Post Moin. The jurisdiction of Police Station Rakkar was transferred from SDPO Jwalamukhi to SDPO Dehra.
Under the Market Intervention Scheme, the Cabinet approved the procurement of apples, kinnows, malta, oranges, and mangoes at Rs. 12 per kg, with galgal at Rs. 10 per kg. The procurement periods were specified for each fruit type.
The Cabinet mandated daily morning assemblies with the national anthem and flag unfurling at High and Senior Secondary Schools. Physical education was made a compulsory daily period, with CPR and First Aid training to be provided in collaboration with the Health and Ayush Departments.
New posts and upgrades were approved for various police stations and SDPO offices across the state, including new posts in Jal Shakti Vibhag and Public Works Department. The Cabinet also approved filling 21 posts of Civil Judges through direct recruitment.
Additional decisions included the creation of Public Works Department and Jal Shakti Vibhag divisions and subdivisions, opening an Electrical Division at Haroli in Una district, and reorganizing development blocks to better serve the local population. The Cabinet also sanctioned the creation of posts in the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries Department, and medical colleges in the state.
The Cabinet allowed the continued use of physical stamp papers for three months from August 1, 2024, and extended the MoU with Alliance Air Aviation Limited for Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla flights until June 30, 2025.
These decisions reflect the government’s commitment to improving administrative efficiency, educational standards, and public services across Himachal Pradesh.
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