The newly formed Himachal Cabinet in a major decision approved lowering the age for providing social security pension from 80 to 70 years.
The decision is likely to benefit a major section of the aged and is seen as the ‘first gift’ of the New Year to senior citizens of the state from the newly formed BJP government. The pension would be given without taking into consideration income criteria.
After the oath-taking ceremony on Wednesday, the Cabinet held its first meeting that was presided over by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
It decided to hold the winter session of Vidhan Sabha from 9 to 12 January 2018 at Dharamshala.
A subcommittee will be formed to chalk out a strategy to deal with the problems of stray and abandoned animals, the Cabinet decided. Anil Sharma, Ram Lal Markanda and Govind Singh Thakur will be its members.
The Cabinet issued directions to put on hold the entire recruitment process being carried on outside the purview of HP Public Service Commission and Staff Selection Commission.
It was decided to remove all nominated chairmen and vice-chairmen besides members in various boards and corporations. The extensions and re-employment given by the previous state government have been ceased with immediate effect. The last six months’ decisions of the previous government will be reviewed.
The Cabinet decided that transfer orders not implemented so far will be held in abeyance and the Swarnima Himachal Drishti Patra (Vision Document) of the BJP will be adopted as the policy document of the state government .
It was also decided to continue the interviews schedule of medical colleges.
The Cabinet thanked the people of the state and especially the Prime Minister for bestowing faith and making available a strong leadership in the newly formed government.