Himachal Pradesh Health and Family Welfare minister, Vipin Singh Parmar stated on February 12, in the state Assembly, that First Kidney transplant facility would be commissioned at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla and the facility to be dedicated to people end of this financial year.

''The first 15 operations for kidney transplant would be accomplished under the direct supervision of specialists from AIIMS, Delhi," the minister said while replying to a question by Congress members Ram Lal Thakur and Anirudh Singh and BJP member, Rakesh Pathania in the state Assembly

The Chief Minister had assured budget provisions of Rs four crore for the facility in 2018-19 budget, out of which Rs 2.91 crore have been spent on machines to establish modular operation theatre, he further said. According to the minister, the doctors, nurses and paramedics were being sent for training in PGI, Chandigarh and AIIMS, Delhi
It is essential to involve Nephrology, Urology and Pathology and Anesthesia experts, he added.

Mr Parmar assured the House that the government would set up the Kidney Transplant Centre by 31 March, 2019.
In reply to another question by Congress member from Kinnaur, Jagat Singh Negi, Forest minister, Gobind Singh Thakur said the mines for minor minerals are not being auctioned in Kinnaur district for want of No Objection Certificates by the Gram Panchayats concerned.

He said the matter for obtaining NOCs has been taken up by the department with the Gram Panchayats from time to time, but no response has been received till date. The consent of the Gram Sabha is mandatory as per rules. He further said presently in Kinnaur, six stone crusher units have been installed, out of which only two stone crusher unit are running under valid permissions and rest of the stone crusher unit are not in operation.

In a written reply to another question by Congress member from Sri Renuka Ji, Health and Family Welfare minister, Vipin Singh Parmar informed the House that 1334 employees are working on contract basis in the different societies of Health and Family Welfare department.

Out of these, 1061 are working in the National Health Mission, 173 in State Aids Control Society, 94 in RKS Society and six in ESI Society. He said 749 employees have completed more than three year of service. However, being the employees of Societies, there is no policy for their regularisation.

Replying to a question by BJP member from Dehra, Forest minister, Govind Singh Thakur informed that the policy of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) falls in the purview of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. It is not in the state government's purview to force the companies spend two per cent of their profit under CSR.