Shimla, Oct 25 (NationPress) The Cabinet of Himachal Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday, made a significant decision to empower the Transport Department to grant the necessary permissions for converting 1,000 existing diesel and petrol taxis into electric vehicles, offering a substantial 40 percent subsidy under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Yojna.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved an increase in the honorarium for Special Police Officers to Rs 300 per month starting April 1, which will benefit 510 individuals, including 107 from tribal regions. The Cabinet also provided ex-post facto approval for a Rs 500 per month honorarium increase for SMC teachers, IT computer teachers, mid-day meal workers, and part-time water carriers, effective from April 1.

Furthermore, it endorsed a proposal to enhance the implementation and monitoring mechanisms of the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojna and the HP Crop Diversification Project (JICA-Phase-II) in the state. This initiative aims to foster improved collaboration among various departments, ensuring effective governance and delivering anticipated outcomes from these flagship projects.

The Cabinet also decided to establish a sub-committee, chaired by Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, to finalize the draft of Rural Area Development guidelines to be adopted by gram panchayats as model bylaws for regulating construction activities in rural areas.

Members of this sub-committee will include Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh, Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharamani. The Cabinet also approved the inclusion of 19 sports in the list qualifying for consideration for appointments to Group A, B, C, and D posts in government sectors.

Additionally, it sanctioned the creation of a distinct state cadre for junior office assistants (IT), initiating with 300 job trainee positions. The Cabinet also approved the construction of Nahan Medical College on newly selected land for its expansion and granted ex-post facto permission for new postgraduation and super-specialty courses under the Department of Medical Education and Research.

Moreover, amendments were made to the scheme for establishing ground-mounted solar power projects with interest subsidies for bona fide Himachalis. The scheme will henceforth be known as Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Saur Urja Yojna, focusing on projects ranging from 100 KW to 2 MW in both tribal and non-tribal areas, with five percent and four percent interest subsidies provided respectively.

Lastly, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014, concerning the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for 2025-26.