Himachal Cabinet Approves Major Recruitment Drive, Relief Measures and Welfare Reforms
Shimla, June 6: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, took a series of significant decisions on Saturday covering employment, healthcare, agriculture, education and social welfare.
One of the key decisions was to review previously rejected compassionate appointment cases. As a one-time special measure, deserving cases will be reconsidered and necessary relaxations granted where required.
The Cabinet also approved the Policy for Regularization of Certain Encroachments on Government Land-2026, aimed at addressing the concerns of landless families and marginal farmers occupying government land for residential, agricultural and horticultural purposes.
In a major boost to employment, the Cabinet approved the creation and filling of 400 Work Inspector posts under the Directorate of Recruitment. It also cleared the recruitment of 300 Medical Officers, 200 Staff Nurses, 250 Multi-Task Workers, 76 Operation Theatre Assistants, 36 Radiographers and 50 Laboratory Technicians in the Health and Family Welfare Department. Additionally, 75 Assistant Professors will be recruited in various government medical colleges.
To provide relief to distressed farmers, the Cabinet approved an Agricultural Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme, under which the state government will bear 50 percent of the interest liability on agricultural loans up to ₹3 lakh. The scheme is expected to benefit more than 6,300 farmers.
The Cabinet also approved full salary benefits for employees proceeding on study leave, regularization of part-time workers who have completed seven years of continuous service by March 31, 2026, and 15 days of paternity leave for job trainees.
In the healthcare sector, the Cabinet decided to enhance health insurance coverage under the Himcare Scheme, increasing coverage from ₹5 lakh to up to ₹10 lakh for eligible beneficiaries.
Another notable decision was the approval of amendments to the Himachal Pradesh NDPS Rules, 1989, enabling the regulated cultivation, processing, storage and transportation of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.
The Cabinet further approved the fourth phase of the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-Up Scheme, offering a 50 percent subsidy on e-buses and a 30 percent subsidy on diesel buses to promote self-employment and strengthen public transport services.
Several decisions related to hospital upgradation, new healthcare facilities, educational institutions, infrastructure development and recognition of fairs and festivals were also approved during the meeting.