Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved 12 significant proposals in a meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday. The decisions span multiple departments, including Urban Development, Finance, Personnel, Disaster Management, Agriculture, and UPNL (Contract).
Contract Employee Regularization on Hold
Hopes of regularizing over 22,000 UPNL employees have been temporarily put on hold. The cabinet decided to form a sub-committee that will submit a report on the matter within two months. Additionally, a Cabinet Committee will be formed to determine the cutoff date and future policy for daily wage and contract workers.
Read also: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Highlights Farmer Empowerment at Uttarakhand Silver Jubilee Conference
Increased Compensation for Disaster Victims
The Disaster Management Department announced significant increases in compensation for affected families:
- Death compensation: Rs. 4 lakh → Rs. 5 lakh
- Assistance for a pucca house: Rs. 3 lakh → Rs. 4 lakh
- Assistance for a kutcha house: Rs. 2.8 lakh → Rs. 3.8 lakh
These measures aim to provide better relief to those impacted by natural disasters.
UPNL Granted Permission for Overseas Recruitment
The Uttarakhand Ex-Servicemen Corporation Limited (UPNL) has been authorized to operate as a recruitment agency abroad. Now, non-ex-servicemen can also register for jobs overseas, expanding employment opportunities for Uttarakhand citizens. The state government also approved income tax relief for UPNL.
Other Major Decisions by the Cabinet
- Urban Development: Formation of a Project Management Unit (PMU) under the 15th Finance Commission to oversee Public Health Policy; Municipal Health Officers to monitor schemes.
- Finance: Acceptance of insurance security bonds in tenders for various schemes.
- Home Department: Creation of an IT wing with two programmer and two assistant computer operator positions.
- Agriculture: State government to pay Rs. 29 lakh pending under Madhu Gram Yojana.
- Planning: Implementation of Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana, which will issue identity cards to citizens.
- Legislative Affairs: Approval of the prorogation of the special assembly session for 2025.
- Sub-Panchal Employees: A sub-committee to determine minimum wages and allowances within two months; Sub-Panchal also allowed to function as a foreign recruitment agency.
- Silver Jubilee Celebrations: Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the public, officials, and media for the success of the celebrations.
Cabinet Attendance
Cabinet Ministers Saurabh Bahuguna, Rekha Arya, Dhan Singh Rawat, and Subodh Uniyal were present at the meeting. After the session, Chief Minister Secretary Shailesh Bagoli briefed the media on the approved proposals.
