INITIATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT

NEW RESOLVES -NEW INITIATIVES

• Election Manifesto of BJP made Policy Document of the State Government.
• New Government creates history by holding  1^st Winter Session of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha at Dharamshala. Newly elected MLAs administered oath at Dharamshala.
• Decision to set up Public Grievances Redressal Cells in all the public utility departments.

PLANNING

• Rs. 2400 crore annual plan for the year 2008-09 fixed, which is Rs. 300 crore more than the previous year.
• Decision to requisition the services of experts/consultants to conduct study in the field of human resource management to professionally restructure the departments of Public Works, Irrigation and Public Health, Forests, Heath and Education for the 11^th Plan period.
• The World Bank has sanctioned Development Policy Loan (DPL) worth $ 200 million (Rs. 800 crore) to Himachal Pradesh out of which $ 100 million were released in March, 2008.
• 13^th Finance Commission urged to sanction Rs 69377 crore for the State.
• Rs 60 crore capital sanctioned for providing liberal financial assistance to provide self employment avenue to the people belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.  

SOCIAL WELFARE

• Top priority to social services sector. Social Security Pension increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 benefitting 2,37,250 eligible pension holders.
• Holiday declared for women employees on Raksha Bandhan and Bhaiya Dooj and free travel facility to women on these days in Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses.
• Decision to finalize recruitment process of Anganwari Workers at local level.
• Rs.1.98 crore to be spent on construction of 99 anganwari centres in 8 districts of the State under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan.
• Allocation of funds to the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan enhanced  from the existing 11 percent of the aggregate plan size to 25 percent for the financial year, 2008-09, thereby enhancing the allocation under the Plan by 157 percent and earmarking Rs. 594 crore over the previous year provisions of Rs. 231 crore.
• 2,82,316 BPL families in the unorganized sector to be brought under "Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna" providing insurance cover of Rs. 30,000 per family on an annual premium of Rs. 750 out of which the beneficiary family will be contributing Rs. 30 per annum only.
• Health Insurance Scheme launched for weavers  under Handloom Weavers Welfare Scheme. 20, 000 families to be benefited by this scheme.
• Dr. Ambedkar Medical Assistance Scheme launched for Scheduled Caste families.
• Decision to provide three percent reservation to physically handicapped persons in Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services 2008.
• A new scheme started for allotment of plots and sheds at concessional rates to the physically challenged entrepreneurs with a view to develop entrepreneurship amongst them to explore self employment avenues in different enterprises
• Decision to provide honorarium of Rs 600 per sitting or Rs 10,000 per month, which ever is more to the members of State Backward Class Commission and State Women Commission.
• Government is considering to start an annual scholarship of Rs, 10,000 for 2000 meritorious children of Scheduled Castes to help them carry forward with their  educational endeavours.
• Rs. 6.80 crore to be spent on construction of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhawan in all 68 assembly segments.
• State Government to consider extension of insurance cover to shepherds of the state by bringing them under the fold of Shepherd Insurance Scheme in association with Government of India, LIC of India and the beneficiaries. 
• BPL (Below Poverty Line) certificates would now be issued by the concerned Gram Panchayat Pradhan resulting into saving of time and money.
• Rs. 90 crore provision made for subsidizing the essential commodities during current financial year, besides, rationalizing the Government supply transportation rates by respective departments.

ROADS

• Mukhya Mantri Gram Path Yojana revived.
• An  ambitious Rs. 1365.435 crore, Himachal Pradesh State Road Project launched from Una under which 435 km long state highways and major district roads would be upgraded besides periodic maintenance of 2000 kms road length.
• One sub-division of HPPWD at Baddi with three sections at Baddi, Barotiwala and Manpura in district Solan opened.
• Foundation stone laid of Jubbal bus stand to be constructed at an estimated of cost Rs. 1 crore.
• Foundation stone of Rs. 45 lac Hatkoti temple parking complex laid.
• Foundation stone of  Rs. 4.90 crore bridge to be constructed on Sihorwalia-Balath road on Beas river laid which would benefit more than ten thousand people of six panchayats of Thural and Jawalamukhi Assembly Constituencies.
• 96 kms. long,  Kalka-Shimla Railway Line, which runs almost entirely in the state of Himachal Pradesh, has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Foundation stone of 300 mt. long Palampur By-pass to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.35 crore laid.

 EDUCATION

• Yoga Education to be started in educational institutions.
• To maintain the academic atmosphere in schools ban imposed on holding Public meetings and official functions in the school premises. In addition to it, community lunch also banned.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme extended to cover upper primary classes, middle units of State Government and Government aided schools in the entire state w.e.f. 1^st July, 2008. Government releases an amount of Rs 10 crore.
• Decision to introduce Scholarship Scheme for the students of OBC category studying in 1^st to 10^th class on 50:50 share basis by the Center and the State Government.
• Amendment in Himachal Pradesh Non-Government Colleges (Grant in Aid) Rules, 2007 approved.
• 100 posts of Punjabi and 100 posts of Urdu Language teachers sanctioned for 100 each identified schools being opened all over the state.
• Martyr Capt. Vikram Batra Government Degree College building constructed at a cost of Rs. 765 lakh at Palampur, dedicated to the people of the area.
• Foundation stone of Government Degree College Jukhala building to be constructed at a cost of Rs 15.88 crore laid.
• Thural ITI would be upgraded to Polytechnic and Civil and Motor Mechanic Trades started from this academic session with a view to develop professional skills amongst local youth. Rs. 1.5 crore would be spent on its upgradation.
• Three new vocational trades introduced in ITI Jubbal. Rs. 2.60 crore to be spend on strengthening infrastructure.
• State Government would be envisioning a Computer Education Plan to accord top priority to the computer education beginning from school level.
• Foundation stone of Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 13.30 crore laid at Sasan near Hamirpur.
• State Government has  proposed a suitable site at Katola near Mandi town for setting up of an IIT sanctioned for the State. Infrastructure would be developed at a cost of Rs.760 crore which has already been sanctioned by the Union Government. 

 HEALTH

• Decision to open three Medical Colleges in public-private participation in private sector in Mandi, Una and Hamirpur districts.
• For starting medical colleges in districts of Mandi, Una and Hamirpur, the Cabinet approved a proposal for offering Regional Hospitals for attachment to private sector parties willing to set up a medical college after a detailed study by consultants.
• The Cabinet approved the policy of opening medical colleges with private participation. Government would give No Objection Certificate to such projects for applying to Medical Council of India, who have acquired the requisite land on their own and set up a corpus fund of Rs. 3 crore.  The applicants will also have to follow the condition of giving 50 percent seats to bonafide Himachalis as laid down under the HP Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2006.
• Decision to adopt the New Policy for empanelment of the hospitals and diagnostic laboratories within and outside the state for the diagnosis, treatment, investigations and reimbursement purposes of the eligible state government employees which fits into the New Policy provisions for empanelment in observance of the required codal formalities.
• Existing honorarium of Medial Officers enhanced. Special Incentive to the doctors serving in tribal, and rural areas of the State.
• Cabinet approved restructuring and constitution of Rogi Kalyan Samitis with greater community participation at Medical College level, District, CHC, PHC level hospitals. 
• Decision to fill 200 posts of  Ayurvedic Pharmacists by 50 percent batch-wise and 50 percent through direct recruitment.
• Decision to adopt new policy to setup new Nursing Colleges and Schools in the State.
• Separate Cadre for Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda.
• One time age relaxation for diploma holders of 1983-84 for recruitment as pharmacists.  
• Foundation Stone of Community Health Centre, Building  Janjehli to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.26 Crore laid.
• Foundation stone laid of the 20-bedded self contained Ayurveda Hospital on Solan Bye-Pass, estimated to cost  Rs. 3.58 crore and equipped with 'Panchkarma' and allied  ayurvedic treatment facilities.
• 200 posts of Medical Officers in the Health and Family Welfare Department approved.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE  

• Daily wage of workers enhanced from Rs. 75 to Rs. 100 from 1st January, 2008. Enhanced wages applicable in private sector also.
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme launched throughout the State from  1st April, 2008 under which every job card holder in rural areas would be ensured 100 days employment.
• 13,205 daily wagers to be regularized who have completed 10 years of service in I&PH and PWD departments.
• Government has enhanced the authorized limit of work being executed in the gram panchayats from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1.5 lakh with a view to generate more sources of income by way of commission to the technical assistants.
• To make the recruitment process simple, condition of attaching certificates during preliminary examination relaxed. 26,000  vacancies to be filled during the current year.
• Interim relief of 5 %  released to Govt. employees and pensioners from November,2006 benefiting 2 lakh government employees and one lakh pensioners.  
• The salaries of Judicial Officers enhanced as per the recommendations of Shetty Commission.
• Decision in principle, to appoint Ayurvedic, Allopathic doctors and Veterinary doctors, Engineers, Teachers and other Technical Trained Staff by 50 percent batch-wise and 50 percent through direct recruitment.
• New Scheme introduced to give Special awards to honest and dedicated officers and officials.
• As many as 1961 posts of various categories to be filled up including 1081 Gram Rozgar Sewaks, 750 Technical Assistants and 40 Junior Engineers.
• 384 post sanctioned in different departments which include 200 posts of librarians and 147 posts in polytechnic colleges.  
• Government of India has sanctioned three Indian Reserve Battalions for which 3000 posts of various categories sanctioned.
• 1172 posts of Panchayat Women Health Workers to be filled.
• Cabinet sanctioned creation of 413 posts of different categories in different departments of the State Government which include 120 posts of Horticulture Development Officers, 120 posts of Horticulture Extension Officers in the department of Horticulture to be recruited through HP Public Service Commission and HP Subordinate Services Selection Board; 117 posts of teaching and non-teaching categories for five newly upgraded senior secondary schools; 35 posts of teaching and non-teaching categories for newly upgraded Government high schools and 6 posts of similar categories for the newly upgraded Government middle school, Rampur in district Una, besides 15 posts of civil judges (Junior Division) in the subordinate courts of the State.
• 6,080 posts in different departments sanctioned which include 4,568 posts of Trained Graduate Teachers in the Elementary education Department.
• Cabinet  sanctioned filling up of 545 posts of different categories in various departments of the state government which includes,  494 posts of different categories for Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla and State Hospital for Mother and Child (KNH) Shimla; 36 posts of teaching and non-teaching categories to the newly upgraded Government Senior Secondary Schools and 25 posts of various categories in the Sainik Welfare Department.
• In order to fulfill the promises made in the Election Manifesto, the State Government has constituted a new department named as Sainik Welfare Department which would monitor welfare activities related to the serving and ex-servicemen.
• A new Transfer Policy implemented for the employees.
• Rs. 6.12 crore sanctioned for modernization of Police force.
• Decision to reorganize State Criminal Investigation Department and also bring about required changes in recruitment procedure for the constables in H.P. Police.
• Up gradation of 8 police posts to Police Stations approved.
• Decision to start DNA finger printing and NDPS testing facilities at State Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga, besides creating two regional laboratories at Dharamsala and Mandi with required staff of 53 different categories.
• Decision to create and fill up 1,007 posts of various categories for the proposed 4th India Reserve Battalion with its headquarter at Jangal-Beri in district Hamirpur and recruitment to the same would be started on priority.
• Decision to grant approval for the establishment of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Police Studies instead of Police Training College at Sakoh, near Dharamshala in district Kangra while the Police Training College at Daroh, near Palampur in district Kangra would continue functioning as it is. 
• Decision  to upgrade the Police Post Bhawarna, in district Kangra, as full fledged Police Station, which will also serve the training purpose of Police Training College, Daroh.
• 2,002 posts of different categories in different departments sanctioned for filling up on priority, which included 1,007 posts in the newly raised India Reserve Battalion for Women; 907 posts of college and school cadre teaching and non-teaching categories in various newly upgraded educational institutions all over the State under Education Department; 34 posts of clerks in the Excise and Taxation Department; 22 posts of various categories for newly created IPH Zonal Office, Hamirpur; 16 posts of Scientists in the CSK University of Agriculture, Palampur; 9 posts of different categories in the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited and 7 posts of different categories in the Planning Department.
• Government to consider constituting Joint Consultative Committee for pensioners.
• Himachal Pradesh Police would bear a new look and sport a new attractive uniform from August 15 this year and police stations at Dhalli in Shimla, Mandi town and Una qualified for ISO Certificates. 

RURAL DEVELOPMENT & PANCHAYATI RAJ

• National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme launched throughout the State from  1st April, 2008 under which every job card holders in rural areas would be ensured 100 days employment.
• An amount of Rs. 347.87 crore for the year 2008-09 from the Union Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned in favour of four districts viz Sirmour, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi under National Rural Employment Guarantee Assurance (NREGA) programme under implementation in the state.
• Panchayat Sahayaks empowered to operate Panchayat Fund as joint signatory with Pradhans of respective gram panchayat.
• Decision to reserve 50 percent seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women.
• Decision to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of SDM(Civil) for recruitment of Panchayat Sahayaks and their salary enhanced from Rs. 2340 to Rs. 3120.
• Monthly honorarium of the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions enhanced w.e.f. 1st April, 2008. 
• Under Total Sanitation Campaign, one cleanest gram panchayat to be awarded a cash prize of Rs. one lac in one block and a district level award of Rs. 3 lac to  be given to one cleanest gram panchayat for each district with less than 300 gram panchayats whereas the award would be given to two gram panchayats for each district with more than 300 gram panchayats. One cleanest panchayat at each divisional and state level to be awarded Rs. 5 lac and Rs. 10 lac respectively.
• The office bearers of the Panchayati Raj Institutions would be entitled to draw travelling and daily allowance as per the norms fixed by the State Government for undertaking journey for official duties. 

• With a view to decentralize and empower the Panchayati Raj Institutions with supervisory power and in fulfillment of the Budget Assurance of the Chief Minister it has been decided to constitute a Sub Committee under the Chairmanship of Education Minister and Forest and IPH Ministers as its members while Principal Secretary, Finance, Education and Secretary Rural Development will be Special Invitees.

 POWER

• New Power Policy to be implemented for speedier harnessing of identified power potential in the State.
• Decision to invite global tenders for execution of power projects above 5 MW.
• 'Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna' announced to provide four Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs free of cost to the domestic consumers  of the State for which budgetary provision of Rs. 80 crore has been made. All Government Offices would use power efficient lighting equipment and State Government would replace all old electric equipment by 25th December, 08, the birthday of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee.
• Decision to setup Himachal Pradesh Power Distribution Corporation to strengthen Power Distribution System in the State.
• Authorized Capital Share of H. P. Power Corporation Lt. enhanced from Rs. 50 to Rs. 200 crore, which would further be increased to Rs. 300 crore by December, 2008.
• Foundation Stone of office cum-residential complex of Sawara-Kuddu hydro electric project at Hatkoti laid.

 AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

• Government to pay 50 percent premium under Agriculture Insurance Scheme.
• In order to boost agriculture production, cash prize scheme introduced under which Rs. 50 Thousand to 6 progressive farmers at State level, Rs. 25 thousand to 28 farmers at District level and Rs. 10 Thousand to 195 farmers at Block level to be provided.
• To ensure remunerative prices to horticulturists, support price of kinnow, malta mango, apple etc. enhanced by 50 paise.
• Decision to set up Gosadans in the State to solve the problem of stray animals.
• First Primate Park set up at Taradevi near Shimla and another park to be set up in Jheen near Nadaun in Hamirpur district.
• Decision to transfer 18,092 sq.mts land to National Mushroom Research Centre, Chambaghat as per the present market rates so as to upgrade it  to full-fledge Institute.
• Decision to include ginger crop of Sirmaur district in the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme on experimental basis to fulfill the demand of farmers.
• 27 crore project to procure anti hail guns posed for funding to protect the apple crops of the growers .
• Foundation stone of modern market yard laid at Kharapather in Jubbal to be constructed at a cost of Rs.2.5 crore.
• "Soil Health Card" system introduced from current financial year onward to suggest the farmer of the appropriate crop suitable to be cultivated in their farms. One lakh such cards would be issued after soil testing to the farmers during current financial year. All the 12 lakh families would be issued the card in phased manner.
• Foundation stone of the expansion of market yard, Solan, estimated to cost Rs. 5.11 crore, laid at Solan for the benefit of vegetable and fruit growers of Solan, Shimla, Sirmour and Kinnaur districts.
• Foundation stone laid of the New Fruit Market at Bhatta Kuffar, to be constructed at an  estimated cost of Rs. 3 crore to provide fruit growers sufficient space to sell their produce at remunerative prices.
• Himachal Pradesh Government has posed an Integrated Agriculture Project of Rs. 500 crore for funding to the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) for implementation in technical collaboration with Japanese Government in the State to modernize the agriculture sector and generate additional income avenues to the farmers.

 IRRIGATION &PUBLIC HEALTH

• Foundation stone of Rs. 66.33 crore Drinking Water Augmentation Scheme for Changer area laid.
• Foundation stone of Rs. 1.30 crore Bardam Lift Irrigation Scheme laid.
• Foundation stone of ambitious Shri Naina Devi Group of villages Lift Drinking Water Supply Scheme estimated to cost Rs. 5.99 crore  laid.
• Foundation stone of Lift Irrigation Scheme for Jukhala group of villages estimated to cost Rs. 188.93 lakh laid.
• Cabinet approved creation of a separate new Irrigation and Public Health Zone for Hamirpur alongwith necessary required staff.  Henceforth the Zonal Offices of the Chief Engineers of IPH will be known as Chief Engineer, IPH, Shimla Zone, Kangra Zone at Dharamshala, Mandi Zone and Hamirpur Zone. Approved conversion of 2 divisions and 6 sub-divisions of Irrigation and Public Health Department into Hydrology Units to create a data base based on hydrology so as to institutionalize progress under the Hydrology Project under implementation in the State.
• Foundation stone of Lift Irrigation Scheme for Sharachli group of villages in Jubbal tehsil estimated to cost Rs. 6,21,82,000 laid. 
• Rs. 61.79 crore Giri-Lift Water Supply Scheme for Solan and adjourning areas dedicated.
• Foundation stone laid of Lift Drinking Water Supply Scheme for Badol Devi group of villages estimated to be completed at a cost of Rs. 257.39 lakh benefiting about 8000 persons of 19 villages of the area.
• Administrative building of Swan River Integrated Watershed Project at Rampur near Una completed at a cost of Rs. 86.56 lakh dedicated.

 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Matter taken up with the Government of India to enhance industrial package till 2013. The present Industrial Package is due to the efforts of the BJP Government in its earlier tenure, which was reduced from 2013 to 2010 during Congress regime.
• Decision to acquire only barren land for setting up of Special Economic Zones in the State.
• Announcement to set up six cement plants with an investment of Rs. 4781.97 crore.
• 500 bighas to be developed as industrial area at Davni (Baddi) in Solan District.
• Rs. 22.5 crore would be spent upon upgrading 9 ITIs of the State.
• A new tehsil opened at Baddi.
• Transport Nagar to be developed at Beri in district Bilaspur.
• Draft Development Plan for Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Special Area approved  to carry out planned development of the industrial area.
• The State Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority cleared nine new industrial proposals for setting up projects at different places in the state. New nine proposals would attract an investment of Rs. 1,095 crore and provide employment to over 3,100 people.
• The State Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority accorded its nod for setting up of 19 more new industrial units at various places in the state which included a mega project of Rs. 396 crore to be set up by Indian Tobacco Company Limited generating employment to over 700 people. New 19 proposals would attract an investment of Rs. 1541.83 crore and generate employment potential to 4,118 unemployed youth of the state.

 TOURISM

• New and Rural areas of the State to be developed from tourism point of view.
• Rs. 2 crore to be spent on environment protection in Manali town.
• Trackers Huts inaugurated a Jhanjeli constructed at a cost of Rs 52 lakh.
• Decision  to adopt ‘Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme-2008’, with a view to involve the entire state in  tourism promotion activities, especially to give boost to the rural tourism by offering various incentives to the prospective entrepreneurs which include, no charges by Town and Country Planning Department for change of land use, exemption (upto 3 rooms) from Luxury and Sales Tax/VAT; electricity and water charges at domestic tariff in respect of registered home stay units.
• Rs. 10 lakh for mettling the Giri-Ganga road  in Jubbal to boost religious tourism in the area .
• Rs. 9 lakh sanctioned for construction of a helipad at Sundli, near Jubbal. .

 FORESTS

• Special Powers delegated to ADM for removing encroachments from Government land.
• Cabinet decided to implement Himachal Pradesh Bio-Carbon Afforestation Project in collaboration with the World Bank and local communities/Gram Panchayats, in the State with a view to generate Carbon Credits and Water Shed Values as well as livelihood options for the local communities.

 REVENUE

• State wide network scheme "Him Swan" launched in the Pradesh.
• New  tehsil at Baddi in Nalagarh sub-division of district Solan.
• Central Government has sanctioned additional assistance of Rs. 201 crore for the State under Calamity Relief Fund as long term measure in order to compensate the losses incurred due to floods during previous year.

INTERSTATE COOPERATION

• Trans Himalayan Development Council proposed for providing an uniform platform for solving various welfare issues and problems of all the hilly States of the country.
• Many issues amicably resolved with Punjab State which includes construction of Chandigarh-Baddi road by June, 2009, priority construction of Shah Nehar Project, linking Baddi with International Airport Mohali with Super Highway, construction of Ropeway between Shri Anandpur Sahib and Shri Naina Devi Jee, Punjab to be provided 150 MW power during Summers whereas Punjab would provide equal power to Himachal Pradesh during Winters and reduction of distance for "B" category industries on either side of the inter-state border from existing 10 Kms to 5 Kms.
• The State Government has succeeded in getting sanction for Rs. 34 crore from Central Government for construction of houses under various Housing Schemes meant for urban poor.

Updated till 20^th July, 2008