The Uttarakhand Cabinet, in its meeting today, approved a range of critical proposals affecting social welfare, administration, and disaster response. The key decisions included giving in-principle approval for the ‘Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana’ and significantly increasing financial assistance for victims of recent natural disasters. To address long-standing concerns regarding employee welfare and government procurement, key policy adjustments and the formation of Cabinet Sub-Committees were also sanctioned.
The most impactful decision was the consensus to implement the ‘Devbhoomi Parivar Yojana.’ This scheme aims to create a detailed database of all resident families in Uttarakhand, providing each with a Unique Family ID. The primary objective is to integrate this ID with various existing public welfare schemes, ensuring that beneficiary families receive the direct and appropriate benefits they are entitled to. Once implemented, citizens will have visibility over all eligible schemes and track which benefits they have availed with just a single click, a major step towards enhancing transparency and governance.
Additionally, in response to recent calamities in Dharali and other areas, the Cabinet substantially increased disaster relief. The aid for families of deceased persons was raised from ₹ 4 lakh to ₹ 5 lakh. For damaged residential houses, ₹ 5 lakh will be provided for permanent (‘pucca’) houses. Temporary (‘kachcha’) houses will receive an additional ₹ 1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, supplementing the standard disaster relief amount. Assistance for damaged commercial buildings will be considered on a ‘case-to-case basis.’
Our Correspondent Reports: This dual focus on a unique digital Family ID for all residents, coupled with a major hike in disaster compensation, signifies a clear push towards both digital welfare delivery and immediate humanitarian support, addressing long-felt needs across the state.
The Cabinet took decisive action on several administrative and personnel issues. It approved an amendment to the Uttarakhand Procurement Rules, 2025, allowing for Insurance Security Bonds to be accepted as ‘Bid Security’ in the tendering process, alongside traditional Bank Guarantees and FDRs, aligning the state with central government guidelines.
A Public Health PMU (Project Management Unit) was approved for formation under the Urban Development Directorate to implement and supervise public health policies in local bodies under the 15th Finance Commission. The creation of posts for a Senior Medical Officer, Finance Controller, MIS Expert, and Assistant Accountant was sanctioned for this unit. In the correctional sector, an IT Wing was approved for the Jail Administration and Reform Service Department, with the creation of two Computer Operator and two Computer Programmer posts.
Two significant employee issues were addressed through the formation of Cabinet Sub-Committees: A committee was formed to consider the regularization of daily wage, contractual, and ad-hoc appointed personnel, and to determine a future ‘cut-off date’, in compliance with a High Court order. A separate Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted to intensively consider the High Court order on providing minimum wages and Dearness Allowance (DA) to UPNL (Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Ltd) employees. This sub-committee has been given a two-month timeframe to consult stakeholders and finalize its report.
Furthermore, the Cabinet approved necessary amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of UPNL to facilitate the provision of foreign employment for ex-servicemen, their dependents, and youth, along with addressing related income tax requirements.
Our Correspondent Adds: The decision to form time-bound sub-committees to address the long-pending issues of regularization and minimum wages for UPNL and contractual staff is a pragmatic approach, showing the government’s intent to find a swift resolution after prolonged litigation.
Finally, the Cabinet approved the payment of the pending Central share grant (40%) for the Centrally Sponsored Horticulture Mission Scheme from the funds of the state sector scheme, “Madhugram Yojana.” The Cabinet also recommended the prorogation of the ‘Special Session’ of the Fifth Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly for the year 2025 and expressed its gratitude to all stakeholders for the successful organization of the Uttarakhand Foundation Day Silver Jubilee celebrations.
