Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Unveils Sweeping Welfare Initiatives

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, announced key welfare measures including land regularisation for landless families and job creation across departments. Other highlights include relief for farmers, enhanced health insurance, and national status for cultural fairs.

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has introduced a series of impactful welfare and development initiatives. A significant decision was made to regularise encroachments by eligible landless families and marginal farmers on government land, with the introduction of the Regularisation Policy-2026.

This policy, formulated following Supreme Court directives, allows regularisation of up to 20 bighas of land for agriculture, horticulture, or residential purposes, potentially benefiting over 1.67 lakh people. It awaits final approval from the Central Government. The Cabinet also approved filling over 1,400 job positions across various sectors, enhancing employment opportunities in the state.

A Special Agriculture Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme will aid debt-burdened farmers, with the government covering 50% interest on loans up to Rs 3 lakh, benefiting about 6,356 farmers. In public health reforms, health insurance coverage under the Himcare scheme will increase from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per family, and hospital facilities will be upgraded significantly.

Fairs such as the Shoolini Fair in Solan district have been elevated to national status, reflecting a commitment to promoting cultural heritage. The government made strides in employment benefits, sanctioning full salary for study leave and wage status for long-serving part-time workers. The adjustments to the Himachal Pradesh NDPS Rules will regulate cannabis cultivation for medical purposes, marking a major development.

Further initiatives include a subsidy for e-bus and diesel bus purchases under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Start-up Yojana and a relief package for families impacted by recent fires. A notable reduction in the fee for tractors transporting minerals for domestic use aims to alleviate operational costs.