Minimum wage relief to forest workers, micro food enterprise scheme extended

Six key decisions taken by Dhami Cabinet
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 11 Feb: A meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was held at the Secretariat here, today, in which six significant decisions were taken related to the Labour, Home, Forest and Agriculture Departments. Two decisions each pertained to the Labour and Home Departments, while one decision each related to the Forest and Agriculture sectors. Secretary to the Chief Minister Shailesh Bagoli briefed the media after the meeting regarding the decisions approved by the Cabinet.
In a major step towards intensifying the State’s campaign against narcotics, the Cabinet today resolved to further strengthen the Drug-Free Uttarakhand initiative. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force, constituted in 2022, has so far been functioning with personnel taken on deputation from the police force. The Cabinet has now approved the creation of a separate structural framework for the Task Force. For the first time, 22 posts have been created at the State Headquarters for this purpose. These include one Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), two Drug Inspectors, one Inspector, two Sub-Inspectors, four Head Constables, eight Constables and two Constable Drivers, which are aimed at institutionalising and reinforcing the operational capacity of the Task Force.
In a key decision, concerning welfare of the workers, the Cabinet also approved the grant of minimum pay scale to daily wage workers engaged in the Forest Department. The decision follows the recommendation of a Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issue. After this decision, 589 daily wage employees hired by the forest department will receive a minimum salary of Rs 18,000 per month. At present, there are 893 daily wage workers engaged in the Forest Department and the Forest Development Corporation, of whom 304 are already receiving the benefit of the minimum pay scale. The decision is expected to provide long-pending financial relief to a substantial section of the workforce.
Another important decision taken today is related to the determination of service conditions for medical officers and higher posts under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS). The Cabinet approved the promulgation of the Uttarakhand Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, Labour Medical Service Rules 2026, under which a total of 94 posts will be created. These include 76 Medical Officers, 11 Assistant Directors, six Joint Directors and one Additional Director. Previously, the ESI framework in the State comprised one Chief Medical Officer and 13 Medical Officers. The expansion is aimed at strengthening institutional medical services available to insured workers under the scheme.
The Cabinet today also approved an extension of the Chief Minister Micro Food Enterprise Upgradation Scheme up to the financial year 2025–26. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, has already extended the centrally sponsored Prime Minister Micro Food Enterprise Upgradation Scheme for one year until 31 March, 2026. In line with this, the State Cabinet has decided to extend the implementation period of the State sector scheme, namely the Chief Minister Micro Food Enterprise Upgradation Scheme, up to 31 March, 2026. It has also been decided that, if the Government of India extends the duration of the scheme further, the same shall be deemed extended in the State as well, ensuring continuity of assistance to small food processing units.
With regard to prison reforms, the Cabinet approved a proposal for drafting of the Uttarakhand Prisons and Correctional Services (Amendment) Act, 2026. It may be reminded here that the Supreme Court has directed that the definition of the term “habitual offenders” as used in prison rules and the Model Prison Manual must be in consonance with the laws enacted by the respective State Legislatures. In compliance with these directions, the amendment Bill will be reintroduced in the forthcoming budget session of the Uttarakhand State Assembly following the Cabinet approval.
The Cabinet also decided to withdraw the Payment of Bonus (Uttarakhand Amendment) Bill, 2020 from the Legislative Assembly. The Bill had been introduced during the Covid-19 global pandemic with the objective of providing relief to industries, stipulating that minimum bonus would be payable to employees only in cases where allocable surplus is available with the employer. However, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, expressed disagreement with the provisions incorporated in the Bill. Furthermore, in the absence of prevailing pandemic-like circumstances and as the proposed Bill had been forwarded to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department, Uttarakhand Government, without obtaining Presidential assent as required by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, it was not possible to proceed further. In view of these developments, the State Government has resolved to withdraw the Bill in its existing form from the State Assembly.