In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand government approved 11 major proposals, including the state’s first Yoga Policy and a revised Golden Card scheme for cashless medical treatment of government employees, pensioners, and their dependents.
Under the approved Yoga Policy, five new yoga hubs will be established across the state. Institutions in hilly regions will receive up to 50% subsidy, while those in plains will receive 25%. Registered yoga instructors will be reimbursed ₹250 per session to promote yoga education.
To address funding gaps in the Golden Card scheme, the cabinet approved a ₹75 crore loan to facilitate timely hospital payments. A new stakeholder-inclusive policy is also planned.
Other key cabinet decisions include:
- Finance & Procurement: Amendments to the Uttarakhand Procurement Rules 2017 to increase the limit for local contractor-based works from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore. MSMEs will be given priority even if their bids are up to 10% higher than the lowest bid.
- Industrial Policy: Approval of the new Uttarakhand Mega Industrial Policy for the next five years. Industries are categorized into four segments based on investment size and employment generation, with subsidies ranging from 10% to 15%.
- Tenders & Transparency: Introduction of online tender security deposits via e-BG (electronic bank guarantee) and a grievance redressal mechanism on the IFMS portal.
- Health Infrastructure: Affordable accommodation and meal facilities for patient attendants at Dehradun and Haldwani medical colleges, similar to AIIMS Rishikesh.
- Social Welfare: Inclusion of methyl alcohol under the Poison Possession and Sale Rules.
- Other Approvals:
- Formation of 11 new posts in the Uttarakhand Tea Development Board.
- Continuation of previous provisions under the state accounts cadre rules.
- Approval of Uttarakhand Service Sector Policy 2024 (subsidy only in non-established service areas).
- Presentation of the State Child Protection Organization’s report in the assembly.
