Himachal shifts from grading to numerical system for appraisal of IAS & IPS officers; new police unit to fight drug menace
Shimla:The Himachal Pradesh government has introduced a numerical grading system for the annual performance appraisals of all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs), moving away from the previous descriptive grading method.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced this change while addressing district officials on the second day of the DC-SP Conference in Shimla, highlighting the government’s commitment to a more objective evaluation of officers’ performance.
In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials from Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla and Solan districts to prioritise good governance, with specific focus areas being a strict crackdown on illegal mining and the drug menace.
He instructed Deputy Commissioners to actively involve communities in efforts to curb illegal mining and announced the government’s plan to establish a dedicated wing, led by an Inspector General-level officer, to strengthen anti-drug measures across the state.
Chief Minister Sukhu also urged Deputy Commissioners to expedite Forest Clearance Act (FCA) approvals to facilitate development projects, underscoring that delays in processing would result in accountability for the responsible officers.
He further outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to uplift the rural economy, noting that Himachal Pradesh has set a minimum support price (MSP) for milk — Rs 45 per litre for cow’s milk and Rs 55 for buffalo’s milk — along with MSP for natural-farming produce, including wheat at Rs 40 per kg and maize at Rs 30 per kg.
Identification of suitable land for solar projects
In another initiative, the Chief Minister directed the DCs to identify suitable land for solar projects, supporting the creation of “green panchayats” across the state.
He also emphasised providing comprehensive support for orphaned children, with a state policy in place to adopt 6,000 orphans as “Children of the State”, and instructed officials to counsel those reaching 18 years of age on available provisions under the Mukhyamantri Sukhashray Yojana.
To address the stray animal issue, the DCs were instructed to prioritise land allocation for cow shelters at district headquarters to reduce hazards caused by stray animals on roads.
Additionally, the Chief Minister directed the relocation of government offices from rented buildings to vacant government-owned spaces within districts.
DCs told to promote tourism initiatives
Tourism development was also a key focus, with the Chief Minister encouraging DCs to promote tourism initiatives, as well as hydropower, data storage and food processing sectors, to drive green industrial growth in Himachal Pradesh.
The conference also included presentations from DCs and SPs on the progress of various projects in their respective districts.
Chief Minister’s Principal Adviser Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Director General of Police Atul Verma, along with other senior officials, participated in the conference.
