Shimla, Sep 1 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh government will formulate a uniform policy for multi-task workers employed in various departments, corporations and boards, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in the Assembly on Tuesday.
He also said that the state government will consider increasing MBBS seats for other backward class (OBC) candidates after the release of census data in 2027.
Responding to a question by Congress MLA R S Bali, Sukhu said that every department, corporation and board in the state has recruited multi-task workers based on its own policies.
As a result, their service conditions and honorariums vary from department to department, he said.
“In light of this, the government is actively working on introducing a uniform policy for multi-task workers, which will bring uniformity in the honorariums paid to these workers,” Sukhu said.
Earlier, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan told the House that 4,100 posts for multi-purpose workers were filled in the Jal Shakti department in the past four years – 866 in 2020-21, 1,397 in 2021-22, 373 in 2022-23, and 1,464 in 2023-24.
Responding to a question by BJP MLA Sukhram Chaudhary, Sukhu said the state government would consider increasing the number of MBBS seats for the OBC category after the census data is released (in 2027), as the OBC population in the state has now reached 24 per cent.
In doing so, the government would adhere to the Supreme Court ruling that limits total reservation to not more than 50 per cent, he said.
Claiming that only the Congress worked for the welfare of the OBC community, Sukhu said the state government is working for the welfare of OBCs in accordance with their sentiments, and not for political gains.
The chief minister mentioned that his government has constituted an OBC commission and its report is expected soon, and that further action will be taken based on its findings.
He said that presently, 12 per cent reservation is provided to OBCs in Grade A and B jobs and 18 per cent in Grade C and D jobs.
Earlier, BJP MLA Sukhram Chaudhary suggested that either 18 per cent reservation be granted to OBCs for MBBS admissions or the reservation policy for the category be scrapped entirely.
He claimed that out of the 610 MBBS seats available in the state this year, only 14 were allocated to the OBC category.
Replying to a question by BJP MLA Janak Raj, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said that 234 seats remained vacant across various polytechnic colleges in the state.
He attributed the situation to the fact that some colleges were opened for “political gains” without providing the necessary facilities.
On a specific query about the proposed Dalash Polytechnic College in Kullu district, Dharmani said the process to obtain clearance under the Forest Conservation Act for land transfer is currently underway. PTI BPL ARI
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