Himachal Government on Friday decided to partially open schools from February 1 while all Government colleges would open from February 8 by strictly following standard operating procedures in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The State Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided that the students of Class V and Classes VIII-XII in the plains that have summer vacations will open from February 1, while those in the hilly areas having longer winter vacations will start February 15. The Cabinet also decided that all the teachers of summer closing Government schools would attend the schools from January 27. All the Government colleges would be open for regular classes from February 8 after winter vacation.
Giving details, an official spokesman said that the Cabinet has decided that the students of Class V and Classes VIII – XII of summer closing schools would be allowed to attend regular classes from February 1 by strictly following laid down SOPs while those having winter closing schools would be allowed to attend regular classes with effect from February 15. Online system for education under “Har Ghar Pathshala” would continue. The similar system can be adopted by the private schools in the State, the spokesman said. The school management of these schools would ensure strict use of face masks, social distancing and use of sanitizers in the school premises. Similarly, ITIs and Polytechnic and Engineering colleges would also be opened from February 1 this year, he said.
Due to reduction in Covid-19 active cases, the Cabinet decided to ensure optimum use of these makeshift hospitals. The State Government has constructed four makeshift hospitals at IGMC Shimla, CH Nalagarh, RPGMC, Tanda and Medical College, Ner Chowk.
The spokesman said that the makeshift hospital at IGMC would be used as Medicine Intensive Care Unit, makeshift hospital at RPGMC Tanda as Communicable Diseases or Infectious Diseases Ward, makeshift hospital at CH Nalagarh as Trauma Care Centre and makeshift hospital at SLBSGMC Mandi at Ner Chowk as Super Specialty Ward.
It also decided to notify Zonal Hospital Dharamshala and DDU Hospital Shimla as Non Covid Hospitals.
During its meeting, the Cabinet also gave approval to issue letter of intent in favour of M/s RCCPL Private Ltd., Navi Mumbai regarding mining lease on 599.1935 hectares of area for extraction of lime stones and mining minerals for cement plant in villages Kamandal, Kumarla, Gitrata and Aara of Chopal Tehsil in Shimla district for a period of three years.
