Himachal raises marriage age of women from 18 to 21
Shimla: In a surprising move the Congress led Himachal Pradesh government has increased the minimum marriage age of women from 18 to 21 years today.
The state cabinet gave its nod to carry out the amendments in the marriage acts and rules.
It also decided to give its nod to sign the MoU for consultancy services from National Dairy Development Board for establishment of automated 1.50 lakh litre per day (LLDP), expandable upto 3 LLPD, milk processing plant with value added products at Dhagwar in district Kangra.
The state education department will now engage ‘Annual Period Based Guest Teachers’ in the departments of elementary and higher education.
The cabinet decided to fill 40 posts of Junior Engineers (Civil) and 25 posts of Junior Technicians (Work inspectors) in Public Works Department, 20 posts of Work Inspectors in Jal Shakti Vibhag, 7 posts of different categories in Revenue Training Institute Jogindernagar, District Mandi and five posts of different categories in Sainik Welfare Department.
It also approved to upgrade 50 bedded Civil Hospital Sujanpur in Hamirpur district to 100 bedded Civil Hospital along with creation and filling up 35 posts of different categories.
It gave its approval to restructuring of the state and excise department by creating two separate wings, the excise wing and the GST and allied taxes wing, to streamline the functioning of the departments, a spokesman said.
The Cabinet gave its approval to extend 3rd phase of Himachal Pradesh Sadbhawana Legacy Cases Resolution Scheme, 2023 from 1st January, 2024 to 31st March, 2024 in order to settle pending assessment cases and arrears which were under litigation or were yet to be assessed under the Acts subsumed under GST.
The Cabinet gave its approval to Himachal Pradesh Film Policy- 2024 to promote and facilitate the film makers in the State. Under the Policy, there is a provision to set up Film Facilitation Cell in the Information and Public Relations department to serve as a single window for granting all permissions for shooting of films in the State through a dedicated web portal in a fixed time frame.
Approval was accorded to the development, operation and maintenance of Ropeway from Nature Park Mohal to Bijli Mahadev Temple in district Kullu and the profit would be shared by the Union and State Governments in 50:50 ratio.
Decision was taken to give relaxation of six months in age to children seeking admission in class 1st in Primary Schools.
The cabinet decided to grant Maternity leave for 180 days under Maternity Benefit Act, 1962 to the female cook cum helper with less than two surviving children in the department of education.