Shimla, July 20 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, on Monday approved the grant of non-practising allowance (NPA) to super-specialist medical faculty possessing recognised DM, M.Ch. and DrNB qualifications serving under the Department of Medical Education and Research. The Cabinet also approved an increase in the stipend of postgraduate students serving under the Department of Medical Education. Under the revised rates, first-year students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 instead of Rs 40,000; second-year students, Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 45,000; and third-year students, Rs 65,000 instead of Rs 50,000.

It was decided to enhance the cash prize of awardee teachers under the Teacher Award Policy. National awardees will now receive a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh instead of Rs 60,000, while state awardees will receive Rs 1 lakh instead of Rs 40,000. It was also decided not to grant extension in service to awardee teachers. The Cabinet further approved an increase in the monthly honorarium of nambardars by Rs 500, from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000, and the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers by Rs 1,000 under the Health Department, from Rs 5,800 to Rs 6,800, with effect from April 1.

It also approved the introduction of B.Sc. Medical Technology (Radiotherapy Technologist) and Bachelor of Radiation Therapy Technology courses with an annual intake of 30 seats each at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla and Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda. The Cabinet decided to establish an All India Institute of Ayurveda at Dhaneta in the Nadaun area of Hamirpur district, with 75 acres of land identified for the purpose.

It approved the Road Safety Audit Policy aimed at minimising the risk of crashes on new road projects and on existing roads, and reducing the severity of accidents where they occur or are likely to occur. The Cabinet also approved the procurement and distribution of fishing boats for fishermen with a 70 per cent subsidy through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism in 2026-27. It further approved a subsidy scheme for the distribution of fishing gear, including cast nets and gill nets, with a 90 per cent subsidy through DBT in 2026-27.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to establish post-harvest infrastructure and cold chain facilities by providing a 70 per cent subsidy through DBT for the establishment of 20 cold storage units (5 MT capacity), 10 freeze-dry units, and 20 refrigerated vans for eligible beneficiaries.

--IANS