HP Cabinet approves SPV for Smart City Mission

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today decided to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of programmes under the Smart City Mission in the state capital.
The SPV would be in the shape of a city advisory forum. It will comprise of all stakeholders as members for rendering support at all stages of planning and implementation, an official release said.
The Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh also approved the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS), it said.
This will also provide easy access to curative geriatric health care services by way of additional insurance cover for senior citizens and those enrolled under the Rashtriya Swasthay Bima Yojana (RSBY), the release said.

Under the scheme, each of the 1,30,587 senior citizens enrolled under the RSBY in the state shall get additional coverage of Rs 30,000 every year, it said.
The Cabinet gave its nod to regularise the staff nurses and other paramedics appointed under the Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) through staff selection after completion of three years of service, the release said.

In the meeting, anincrease of remuneration for Special Police Officers (SPOs)from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per month was approved, it said.
This was done as they render vital support to the state police and security forces deployed in difficult and remote areas of district Chamba and Lahaul bordering Jammu and Kashmir, the release said.

The services of 518 SPOs have been approved in the districts by the Centre, it said.
The Cabinet alsoapproved relaxation in education and other qualifications for direct recruitment of Class-IV posts and services against direct recruitment quota posts in favour of visually impaired persons above 35 years of age, the release said.
It also decided to give honorarium of Rs 1,500 per month to cook-cum-helpers engaged under the Mid Day Meal Scheme, besides enhancing grant-in-aid to tailoring teachers to Rs. 6,300.
The Cabinet also approved amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Technical University Act, 2014.
It provided that the vice-chancellor shall be appointed for a period of three years and eligible for reappointment for further three years but not beyond the age of 70 years.