The Uttarakhand Cabinet is set to meet today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, where key proposals including the state’s first-ever Yoga Policy and a revised Golden Card system for government employees and pensioners are expected to be approved.
The Yoga Policy, in development for the past two years, aims to promote yoga by building necessary infrastructure and offering incentives. The policy proposes mandatory registration for all operating yoga and meditation centres in the state. Guidelines will be framed for establishing meditation caves, Vipassana centres, and yoga retreats. Additionally, yoga and meditation will be integrated into school curricula. The policy may also include up to 50% subsidy for infrastructure development in yoga, naturopathy, and spiritual wellness.
The Golden Card scheme, which provides cashless medical treatment for government employees, pensioners, and their dependents, is also under revision. While the scheme generates around ₹120 crore annually through employee contributions, actual treatment costs are nearly double. The cabinet will review a new proposal to address this funding gap and ensure smoother implementation of the cashless treatment system.
