Contract employees in Himachal to be regularised

With the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections expected to be held by the end of this year, the Virbhadra Singh-led government made a slew of populist announcements on Tuesday.

The State Cabinet decided to regularise all contract employees here who completed three years of service in March 2017. The Rogi Kalyan Samiti paramedical staff will be regularised after four years of service instead of eight years. Pay scales of 4-9-14 will be applicable to all medical officers and their contract period will also be counted.

Leave rules announced

All other part-time workers who completed eight years of service in March 2017 will be regularised as daily wagers. The grant-in-aid to 3,226 watchmen in various panchayats and honorarium of Anganwari workers in the State will be enhanced. The Cabinet also announced leave rules and benefits for all remaining contract workers in the State, including a 135-day maternity leave.

Grant-in-aid increased

It approved an increase in the grant-in-aid to Rs. 4,000 from Rs. 3,000 per child per annum under the Mother Teresa Matri Asahaya Sambal Yojna as per the Budget announcement.

Another nod was granted to filling up of 200 posts of panchayat sahayaks in the Panchayati Raj Department and 174 posts of contractual forest guards in Forest Department from the existing manpower of the Desert Development Project and Watersheds. Hundreds of posts in the Agriculture, Education, Excise and Taxation, and Health Departments are also expected to be filled up.

Schools to be upgraded

The Cabinet also approved upgradation of various primary and middle schools in different districts, as promised by the Chief Minister during his visits.

Approval for empanelment of super-specialty private hospitals under the critical care facilities scheme also received a green signal. These private hospitals will enter into an agreement with the State Swasthaya Bima Yojna Society and provide critical care facilities on pre-defined package rates.