HP Cabinet approves package for families affected by disaster

Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday decided to extend the Special Relief Package to disaster-affected areas, including Samej and Rampur in Shimla district, Jaun-Bagipul and Nirmand in Kullu district, and Tikkam Thalu-Kot in Mandi district.

- ASHWANI SHARMA

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh presided over the Cabinet meeting. Under the package, affected families will receive enhanced compensation for their losses. The compensation for completely damaged houses would be increased to Rs 7 lakh, up from the previous amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh, aligning with the relief measures provided to disaster-affected families last year.

The Cabinet gave its nod criteria for engaging 80 ‘Khanan Rakshak’ in the department of Industries fixing the age limit between 20 to 30 years. It decided to fill up 26 posts of various categories in the department of Sainik Welfare and approved to fill up 17 Punjabi Language Teachers and 14 vacant posts of Urdu Language Teachers in the department of Education.

It also gave approval for engaging the ‘Guest Teachers’ in the education department to fill gaps due to short term vacancy in any institution to be paid on hourly basis. This is a move to hire teachers on a paid period basis.