In a sweeping series of decisions reflecting both progressive intent and grassroots pragmatism, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has approved a multi-sectoral policy slate that touches on women’s welfare, sustainable agriculture, healthcare infrastructure, rural livelihoods, and inclusive urban development. Taken together, the measures illustrate a governance model increasingly attuned to the socio-economic contours of a rapidly evolving hill state—and one that seeks to balance equity with efficiency in addressing long-standing rural and urban challenges.
Among the most notable announcements was the inclusion of domestic working women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behana Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna, a state pension scheme designed for marginalized women. With this expansion, women who have worked a minimum of 100 days as domestic help—along with their daughters aged 21 and above—will now receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500 (approximately $18). In a country where domestic work remains largely informal, unregulated, and underpaid, the move stands out as a rare institutional recognition of invisible labor. For many women, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, this policy offers not just economic support but long-overdue social acknowledgment.
यहाँ हिमाचल प्रदेश मंत्रिमंडल की बैठक में लिए गए सभी प्रमुख निर्णयों का सरल और पठनीय हिंदी में सारांश प्रस्तुत है:
1. घरेलू कामकाजी महिलाओं को पेंशन योजना में शामिल किया गया:
इंदिरा गांधी प्यारी बहना सुख सम्मान निधि योजना में अब 100 दिन से अधिक काम करने वाली घरेलू सहायिकाएं और उनकी 21 वर्ष से अधिक आयु की बेटियाँ भी शामिल होंगी। इन्हें ₹1500 प्रति माह पेंशन दी जाएगी।
2. प्राकृतिक खेती को बढ़ावा:
राज्य में प्राकृतिक रूप से उगाई गई फसलों के लिए न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य (MSP) बढ़ाया गया। गेहूं ₹60/किलो, मक्का ₹40/किलो, कच्ची हल्दी ₹90/किलो और चंबा के पांगी क्षेत्र की जौ ₹60/किलो तय की गई। पांगी को राज्य का पहला ‘नेचुरल फार्मिंग सब-डिवीजन’ घोषित किया गया।
3. ग्रामीण परिवहन को बढ़ावा:
422 नए स्टेज कैरिज रूट निजी ऑपरेटरों को आवंटित किए जाएंगे जिससे राज्य में बेहतर बस सेवा और युवाओं को स्वरोजगार मिलेगा।
4. शहरों में पार्किंग की सुविधा बढ़ेगी:
जिन भवनों की बेसमेंट फ्लोर बंद पड़ी हैं, उन्हें पार्किंग के लिए खोला जाएगा। पार्किंग के अलावा उपयोग करने पर भारी जुर्माना लगेगा।
5. हमीरपुर मेडिकल कॉलेज में नई सुविधाएं:
यहाँ नेफ्रोलॉजी, न्यूरोलॉजी और गैस्ट्रोएन्टेरोलॉजी विभाग शुरू होंगे। इसके लिए 118 पद सृजित और भरे जाएंगे।
6. कृषि विज्ञान केंद्रों में भर्तियाँ:
राज्य के विभिन्न कृषि विज्ञान केंद्रों में 43 तकनीकी पद भरे जाएंगे।
7. जल शक्ति विभाग का नया डिवीजन:
हमीरपुर जिले के सुजानपुर में नया जल शक्ति विभाग डिवीजन खोला जाएगा।
8. होमस्टे नीति में राहत:
चंबा के पांगी क्षेत्र में होमस्टे पंजीकरण शुल्क अब सामान्य दर का केवल 50% होगा, जिससे स्थानीय पर्यटन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा।
9. आयुर्वेद और प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य केंद्रों का उन्नयन:
कांगड़ा जिले के कोसरी में आयुर्वेदिक स्वास्थ्य केंद्र को 10-बिस्तर वाले अस्पताल में बदला जाएगा और ऊना जिले के पंजावर में पीएचसी को सीएचसी (कम्युनिटी हेल्थ सेंटर) बनाया जाएगा।
10. पानी की दरों में राहत:
राज्य के 14 नए नगर पंचायतों और कुछ नगर निगमों/नगर परिषदों के नए जुड़े क्षेत्रों में अगले 3 वर्षों तक ग्रामीण दरों पर पानी का बिल लिया जाएगा।
11. आईटीआई संस्थानों का विलय:
राज्य के 7 ‘स्टेट ऑफ आर्ट’ ITI और 7 महिला ITI को संबंधित सरकारी ITI संस्थानों में मिलाया गया है, जिससे संसाधनों का बेहतर उपयोग हो सके।
ये निर्णय राज्य सरकार के सामाजिक कल्याण, सतत विकास और ग्रामीण सशक्तिकरण की दिशा में प्रतिबद्धता को दर्शाते हैं।
In the realm of agriculture, the Cabinet approved significant hikes in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown crops—a shift that bolsters the state’s push toward natural and organic farming models. The MSP for naturally grown wheat and maize has been raised to ₹60 and ₹40 per kilogram respectively. Prices were also set for raw turmeric and high-altitude barley, with Pangi in Chamba district declared the state’s first official Natural Farming Sub-Division. As climate change and soil degradation intensify, Himachal Pradesh’s promotion of sustainable farming practices could serve as a replicable model for other mountainous and ecologically fragile states across the Global South.
Meanwhile, the state’s transport policy also took a citizen-centric turn. The Cabinet approved the allotment of 422 new stage carriage routes to private operators, creating not only a potentially more efficient transport network but also employment opportunities for young entrepreneurs in the transport sector. This decentralization of public transport services is particularly important in a topographically challenging region like Himachal, where remote hamlets often remain isolated due to poor connectivity.
Urban congestion—an increasing problem in towns such as Shimla, Mandi, and Dharamshala—was addressed through a policy that repurposes previously closed basement floors for parking. The initiative, which imposes penalties for misuse, attempts to reduce roadside congestion while optimizing existing urban infrastructure.
Healthcare infrastructure also received a notable boost. The Cabinet approved the establishment of specialized medical departments—nephrology, neurology, and gastroenterology—at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College in Hamirpur. To ensure operational readiness, 118 new posts will be created and filled. Simultaneously, rural health received a push with the upgradation of Ayurvedic and Primary Health Centres in Kangra and Una districts, respectively, reflecting a dual commitment to both traditional and allopathic medical systems.
In a nod to the educational sector, the Cabinet approved the merger of several women’s and “State of Art” (SOA) Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into larger existing institutions. The consolidation aims to improve administrative efficiency and resource allocation, although it may raise questions around accessibility and representation, especially for women in remote regions.
The state’s ambitious Home Stay Policy also got a tailored revision, with the registration fee in Pangi—an underdeveloped sub-division in Chamba—set at just 50% of the standard rate. The policy is expected to encourage tourism while creating local income avenues in areas often overlooked by mainstream travel circuits.
Water access and affordability, particularly in transitioning rural-to-urban areas, was another issue addressed. Residents in 14 newly created Nagar Panchayats and recently merged areas within municipal corporations and councils will continue paying rural water tariffs for the next three years. This transitional relief aims to cushion the economic impact on households grappling with new urban utility costs, effectively recognizing the uneven paces of urbanization across the state.
Collectively, these Cabinet decisions reflect a governance strategy that leans into inclusive development. By aligning welfare schemes with structural reforms—in sectors ranging from agriculture to healthcare—the state government appears to be crafting a more responsive and human-centered administrative ethos. In a federal system as vast and diverse as India’s, such region-specific innovation may hold valuable lessons for others looking to combine compassion with policy rigor.
Disclaimer: This article is a rewritten and editorially enhanced feature based on publicly available government news.
#WomenEmpowerment #SustainableFarming #HealthcareAccess #RuralDevelopment #IndianGovernance
