Shimla, Nov. 24 -- The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Monday approved a significant increase in disaster relief assistance, raised major recruitment proposals, and cleared multiple administrative decisions, even as the political debate over the delay in Panchayat elections continued.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said the government had approved a Rs 1 lakh increase in relief assistance, raising the compensation for disaster-affected families from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.

"The Cabinet has decided that in cases where an entire house is destroyed due to fire, the affected family will also be provided Rs 8 lakh as compensation," Negi said.

The Cabinet also approved the reorganisation of Pancha...