During the cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the Secretariat, tribute
was paid to senior activist and former cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt, who had played an important role in the
Uttarakhand state formation movement. A two-minute silence was observed on his demise and the cabinet particularly
remembered the contribution of Diwakar Bhatt in the formation and development of the state.
Govt to re-visit Metro Neo Plan for Dehradun
By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 26 Nov: An important meeting of the Uttarakhand Cabinet was held at the Secretariat here, today, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Many important proposals were approved by the cabinet in today’s meeting. Important decisions included approval for labour law reforms in the state, hike in the relief amount for wildlife attack victims and a decision to revisit the Metro Neo Plan for Dehradun as recommended by the Centre. Besides these, a series of significant decisions covering environmental conservation, power sector reporting and major infrastructure proposals were also taken during the meeting.
To begin with, the Cabinet approved a proposal to place the comprehensive statement of accounts and activities of the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board for the financial year 2024-25 before the State Legislature and also granted approval for placing in the House, the Annual Financial Report of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited for 2022-23 in accordance with Section 395 of the Companies Act, 2013.
A key decision taken today is related to amending the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Distribution Fund Rules, 2025. Under the existing provisions, dependants of the victims of human-wildlife conflict were entitled to Rs 6 lakhs in cases of human death. Responding to the public demand and the sensitivity of such incidents, the Cabinet approved an increase in the ex-gratia amount from Rs 6 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs per person. This amendment approved stands to modify Sub-rule (1) of Rule 9 of the 2024 Rules and follows the decision taken in the 10th Governing Body meeting of the Tiger Conservation Foundation for Corbett Tiger Reserve. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dham had also announced recently that the government will hike the ex-gratia amount for victims of wildlife attack.
In the labour sector, the cabinet approved major reforms concerning shops and establishments. It approved conditional relaxation for women labour to work in night shifts between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., subject to the employer ensuring adequate safety measures for the women. This provision is expected to widen employment opportunities, strengthen economic empowerment of women, and promote gender parity by enabling equal work opportunities alongside male counterparts. Deployment of women in night shifts will require their prior written consent.
The Cabinet also approved amendments in the Uttarakhand Shops and Establishments (Employment Regulation and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, particularly in respect of sections 1(2), 8, 9, and 19 of the Uttarakhand Shops and Establishments (Employment Regulation and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017.
The Government has claimed that the proposed amendments will ensure that small establishments are not burdened with additional compliance requirements and can continue their economic activities smoothly, while workers in larger establishments will continue to receive all benefits guaranteed under the law. The ordinance is expected to encourage investment, provide flexibility in shops and establishment working hours, and reduce administrative load. It is also likely to enhance the operational efficiency of establishments and create more work opportunities for employees, thereby improving their financial situation.
In the infrastructure sector, the Cabinet was apprised by the officials about the advice and observations of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs regarding the proposed Metro Neo project for Dehradun. A proposal was placed before the Cabinet seeking guidance following the resolution adopted in the 34th Board Meeting of the Uttarakhand Metro Rail, Urban Infrastructure and Building Construction Corporation. The Cabinet also decided to re-examine the proposal concerning the mandatory requirement of map approval within the District Development Authority areas under the Housing Department.
Further, in the Home Department, the Cabinet approved restructuring of the prosecution cadre to strengthen judicial processes. Although the sanctioned strength for the prosecution cadre has been 142 posts since the formation of the state, only 91 posts of Assistant Prosecution Officer had been created so far. To ensure effective representation in courts, the Cabinet approved the creation of 46 additional posts of Assistant Prosecution Officers in the first phase for the districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital.
Cabinet pays tribute to UKD leader Diwakar Bhatt
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 26 Nov: A meeting of the Cabinet was held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami here today in which several key decisions were taken. The meeting began with the Cabinet observing two minutes of silence to pay homage to senior activist and former Cabinet Minister Diwakar Bhatt, who played a significant role in the Uttarakhand statehood movement.
It may be recalled that the veteran UKD leader, popularly called Field Marshal by his supporters for his significant role in the statehood agitation for a separate Uttarakhand, passed away at his residence in Haridwar yesterday.
The Cabinet also recalled and acknowledged the contributions of Divakar Bhatt towards the creation and development of the state.
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