Daijiworld Media Network - Shimla

Shimla, Mar 8: Women abandoned by their spouses and without independent sources of income will now be treated as destitute and made eligible for social security benefits in Himachal Pradesh.

The decision was taken by the state cabinet at a meeting chaired by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday. The cabinet approved amendments to the Social Security Pension Rules, 2010, redefining the term ‘destitute’ and simplifying the certification process for availing benefits under various welfare schemes.

Under the revised provisions, women who have been deserted by their husbands and do not have any independent source of income will qualify for benefits meant for destitute women.

The cabinet also decided to invite objections and suggestions from the public on proposed amendments to Rules 28, 87, 88 and 89 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Elections) Rules, 1994. The proposed changes state that panchayats that have remained reserved for two consecutive terms since the base year 2010 will not be reserved in the upcoming panchayat elections scheduled to be held on May 31.

In another decision, the cabinet approved the extension of 40 percent of the Local Area Development Fund under the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy to provide financial assistance to ‘children of the state’.

The cabinet also gave its approval to cancel 15 hydroelectric projects that failed to be commissioned despite availing benefits under a one-time amnesty scheme.

Further, it decided to allot the 10-MW Small Hydro Electric Project at Pandoh to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), subject to the board returning unused land to the state government. As part of the agreement, the state will receive 13 percent free power and an additional five percent of the generated electricity as its share from BBMB.

Approval was also granted to fill 111 posts across various categories in the departments of technical education, cooperation, education and public relations.

The cabinet also approved the formation of the Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited at Dhagwar in Kangra district, comprising milk producers from Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba and Una districts. The National Dairy Development Board will serve as the administrator for the management and operation of the Dhagwar Milk Processing Plant.

Additionally, the cabinet sanctioned the enhancement of heli-taxi services on the Chandigarh–Shimla–Chandigarh route from three sorties to twelve sorties per week. Flights will be operated twice daily for six days a week, with the state government providing viability gap funding to support the service.

The cabinet also decided that salaries of outsourced employees engaged under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the Jal Shakti department will be released from state resources as the Centre has not yet released the funds under the mission.

It also approved an amendment to Rule 7 of the Himachal Pradesh Lease Rules, 2013 to grant an 80-year lease in favour of the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA). Earlier, the rules allowed the state government to grant land leases only for a maximum period of 40 years.