Himachal Cabinet Clears 15,000 Govt Jobs; Kabaddi Stars to Get ₹1 Crore Each
Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approves 15,000 government jobs and ₹1 crore rewards for four international women kabaddi gold medalists.
In a massive boost for employment and sports recognition, the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has approved the creation of approximately 14,000 to 15,000 new government posts across various departments. Additionally, the state has announced a monumental reward of ₹1 crore each for four women kabaddi players who secured gold medals at the international level.
Massive Recruitment Drive for Himachal Youth
The decision marks a significant step toward the state government's commitment to providing employment to the youth. Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, following a meeting where nearly 200 agenda items were discussed, stated that the government aims to complete the recruitment process for these new posts by March.
The scale of the recruitment drive includes several key sectors:
- Education: Approximately 3,900 posts for CBSE-affiliated government schools, including lecturers and 900 non-teaching positions. The state also plans to open 100 new schools next financial year.
- Higher Education: 320 Assistant Professor posts in government colleges and 200 teaching posts in the Technical Education Department.
- Forest & Wildlife: 500 Forest Guard posts, 10 Range Officer posts, and 57 posts for the upcoming international-level zoo at Bankhandi in Kangra.
- Public Utilities & Services: 4,004 posts for the Jal Shakti Department, alongside various roles in the Public Works, Public Relations, Transport, and Horticulture departments.
- Teacher Regularisation: 744 posts to facilitate the regularisation of eligible Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs).
The government has already provided employment to roughly 32,000 people, with another 18,000 recruitments currently in various stages of selection. The ultimate goal is to fill around 50,000 posts by the end of the year.
Golden Rewards for Kabaddi Champions
In a move to honor sporting excellence, the Cabinet has sanctioned a reward of ₹1 crore each for four women kabaddi players who won international gold medals. The recipients are:
- Pushpa Rana (Captain)
- Jyoti from Solan
- Bhawana from Mandi
- Ritu Negi from Sirmaur (representing Railways)
This decision follows a request from the players for financial recognition on par with other states. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a new policy framework where international gold medallists from events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games may be considered for government roles, such as Assistant District Sports Officers, subject to eligibility rules.
Support for Dairy and Fisheries
Beyond jobs and sports, the Cabinet introduced measures to bolster the agrarian economy. The incentive for milk producers through cooperative societies has been doubled, increasing from ₹3 to ₹6 per litre to ensure the financial viability of these cooperatives. Additionally, the government has fixed a minimum support price of ₹20 for fish and approved a policy framework for a proposed risk fund scheme.