The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the launch of the “Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna,” a new welfare scheme providing monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to eligible women between the ages of 18 and 59. The decision was reached during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Under the new policy, approximately 3.5 lakh women have been identified as beneficiaries. While all eligible women in a family may receive the monthly financial assistance, the provision for 300 units of free electricity is limited to one member per beneficiary family. The government also noted that it had previously increased the monthly assistance for women over 59 years of age from ₹1,050 to ₹1,500.
Beyond social welfare, the cabinet introduced a uniform policy to manage the sale of surplus raw water to industries, government agencies, and neighboring states. This policy sets an initial benchmark rate of ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet, with periodic revisions tied to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). The cabinet further approved the “Khelo Himachal Chitta Mukt Abhiyan-2026,” an initiative targeting all twelve districts of the state, aimed at curbing drug abuse by engaging youth in sports.
The state government also implemented several changes to its energy and transport sectors. This includes amending the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy-2021 to provide a 50 percent free power royalty for the first 10 years after 40 years of operation for specific central public sector projects. Additionally, the cabinet canceled 222 solar power projects and 13 hydroelectric projects due to non-implementation or policy violations. To support public transport, officials increased the subsidy for diesel bus purchases under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojna-2023 from 30 percent to 40 percent.
Key facts
- The 'Mukhya Mantri Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojna' covers eligible women aged 18 to 59.
- An estimated 3.5 lakh women are set to benefit from the new financial assistance.
- Surplus raw water sales are benchmarked at ₹100 per 1,000 cubic feet.
- The state cancelled 222 solar power projects citing prolonged non-implementation.
- Subsidies for diesel bus purchases were increased from 30 percent to 40 percent.
Why it matters
The implementation of these measures fulfills key pre-poll promises made by the Congress party during the 2022 Assembly election. These policy decisions arrive as the state prepares for upcoming assembly elections, which are due in the latter half of 2027.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express
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