State Cabinet Decisions to Strengthen Anti-Drug Campaign, Worker Welfare and Health Services

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN

Six decisions were taken by cabinet in cabinet meeting led Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami here in secretariat on Wednesday. Uttarakhand’s campaign to make the state drug-free will be further intensified. Till now, personnel for the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) were deployed on deputation from the police force. The Task Force was constituted in 2022. The Cabinet has now approved the creation of a separate and permanent structure for the force.

For the first time, 22 posts have been sanctioned at the state headquarters level. These include one Deputy Superintendent of Police, two Drug Inspectors, one Inspector, two Sub-Inspectors, four Head Constables, eight Constables, and two Constable Drivers. With this move, the government aims to strengthen enforcement against narcotics and enhance coordinated action across the state.

In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the payment of minimum wages to daily wage workers employed in the Forest Department. Acting on the recommendations of a Cabinet sub-committee, the government has decided to provide a minimum monthly wage of ₹18,000 to 589 daily wage workers. At present, there are 893 daily wage workers in the Forest Department and Forest Development Corporation, of whom 304 are already receiving minimum wages.

The Cabinet also approved the determination of service conditions for medical officers and senior posts under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme. The “Uttarakhand Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, Labour Medical Services Rules, 2026” has been promulgated. Under the new structure, a total of 94 posts have been sanctioned, including 76 medical officers, 11 assistant directors, six joint directors, and one additional director. Earlier, the ESI cadre comprised one Chief Medical Officer and 13 medical officers.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to extend the implementation period of the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Enterprise Upgradation Scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, by one year till March 31, 2026 (financial year 2025–26). In line with this, the implementation period of the Chief Minister’s Micro Food Enterprise Upgradation Scheme under the state sector has also been extended till the same date. The Cabinet further decided that any future extension of the scheme by the Government of India will automatically be adopted by the state.

The Cabinet also approved the drafting of the Uttarakhand Prisons and Correctional Services (Amendment) Act, 2026. In compliance with Supreme Court directives, the amendment seeks to define the term “habitual offenders” in accordance with laws enacted by the State Legislature. The Cabinet has given its approval to reintroduce the Amendment Bill in the upcoming session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.