Paternity Leave Update: Big news for everyone. Himachal Pradesh government has taken important decisions regarding converting 1,000 diesel and petrol taxis into electric taxis in the state and providing 40 percent subsidy under Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Yojana under this scheme and giving 15 days paternity leave to government employees.

These decisions were taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu here on Saturday. The meeting also approved a proposal to grant 15 days of paternity leave to male contract employees in the state. Construction at a new site was approved for the expansion of Nahan Medical College, while the new Resident Doctors Policy-2025 and a plan to regulate the appointment of auxiliary staff nurses also received cabinet approval.

Many important decisions were taken in the meeting

The Cabinet approved the transfer of 32 posts of Assistant Professors in the Department of Emergency Medicine, benefiting the medical colleges of Shimla, Tanda, Nerchowk, and Hamirpur. A separate state cadre for Junior Office Assistants (IT) will be created under the Directorate of Recruitment, with 300 posts to be created in the first phase. Furthermore, a proposal was passed to streamline the implementation and monitoring mechanisms of the Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana and the Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Project (JICA-Phase II).

Additionally, approval was given to convert 1,000 diesel and petrol taxis into electric taxis. This scheme will be funded with a 40 percent subsidy under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Scheme. The Cabinet approved the inclusion of 19 new sports, including baseball, para-sports, rugby, mallakhamb, wushu, and kickboxing, in the list that makes sportspersons eligible for appointment to state services (A, B, C, and D cadres).

The Cabinet amended the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Student Loan Scheme, tripling the family income limit from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 12 lakh annually. Furthermore, education loans will now be available for postgraduate courses at a 1 percent interest rate.