Dhami Cabinet Clears ₹7,412 Crore Supplementary Budget | Uttarakhand News Network

The Uttarakhand Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved approximately 26 proposals during a meeting held at the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting commenced at 3:55 PM, while Cabinet Ministers Rekha Arya and Ram Singh Kaida were absent. Among the key decisions, the Cabinet approved the introduction of a supplementary budget of approximately ₹7,412 crore during the upcoming monsoon session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Several proposals aimed at women’s welfare, education, sports development, administrative reforms and public services also received approval. Ekal Nari Samman Yojana Approved The Cabinet approved the Chief Minister’s Ekal Nari Samman Yojana, a new initiative aimed at empowering destitute and single women in Uttarakhand by providing financial assistance and strengthening their economic security. Relief for Students with Disabilities, Expanded Coaching Benefits In a significant decision concerning education, the Cabinet approved a concession of five grace marks for students with disabilities appearing in Uttarakhand Board examinations. The government also raised the annual family income eligibility limit for free coaching for meritorious students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from ₹2 lakh to ₹8 lakh. The move is expected to extend the benefit to a larger number of economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the establishment of two private universities, Arogyam University and BMS University, in Haridwar to promote higher education in the state. Free Roadways Travel for Medal-Winning Athletes To encourage sports and recognise sporting achievements, the Cabinet approved free travel on Uttarakhand Roadways buses for state athletes who have won medals or awards at the national or state level. The government also decided to appoint chief sports coaches in every district to identify, train and nurture emerging athletic talent. Key Administrative and Policy Decisions The Dhami Cabinet approved several other proposals, including: Renewable energy: Restructuring of the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA). Girls’ education: Upgrading the Government Ashram-style Residential School for Girls in Udham Singh Nagar district to high school status. Pollution Control Board: Approval of service rules for Group C and Group D employees. Stamp duty cases: Introduction of a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to resolve stamp-duty-related cases. Infrastructure development: A unified approval process for the construction of roads and bridges, replacing the requirement for separate authorisations. Tribal nomenclature: Correction of the spelling of “Jannasari” to “Jaunsari” in the list of tribes under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. Uniform Civil Code: Approval of an amendment to rectify clerical errors in the provisions of Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Focus on Welfare and Governance The decisions taken at Thursday’s meeting reflect the state government’s focus on expanding social welfare measures, improving educational opportunities, supporting athletes and simplifying administrative procedures. The proposed supplementary budget of approximately ₹7,412 crore is also expected to be a key agenda item during the upcoming monsoon session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.