Himachal Pradesh Cabinet makes new Decisions and Policies

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, presided over a cabinet meeting and made many decisions in various fields such as:

1. To adopt the Fertilizer Policy for the current financial year 2008-09
2. To conduct Common Entrance Test for admission to two-years JBT course for the session 2008-10 to admit 2550 trainees.
3. It also decided modification in the basics of bidding and re-advertise the projects to have Rs. 20 lakh per Mega Watt as Upfront Premium and free power as applicable under provisions from the projects with capacity above 5MW capacity besides sanctioning 6,080 posts of different categories in various organizations of the state government.
4. It granted permission for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for 775 MW Luhri Hydro-Electric Project with Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on 51:49 ratio equity participation.
5. It decided to extend the Mid-Day Meal Scheme cover to upper primary classes, middle units of State Government and Government aided schools in the entire state w.e.f. 1stJuly, 2008.
6. The Cabinet consented to permit change the location of the Multi-Project Special Economic Zone in district Kangra from proposed Damtal to Milwan within the same district.
7. It decided to introduce Scholarship Scheme for the students of OBC category studying in 1st to 10th class on 50:50 share basis by the Centre and the State Government.
8. It decided to adopt the New Policy for Setting up of the Nursing Colleges and Schools in the State with intake capacity in B.Sc. Nursing and GNM of 680 each.
9. It decided to constitute a committee under the Chairmanship of the Sub Divisional Officer (Civil) to recruit the Panchayat Sahayaks and enhance their remuneration from Rs. 2340 to Rs. 3120 per month as also engage Takniki Sahayaks for cluster of gram panchayats under the State Government scheme; as also the remuneration of Kanishth Lekhpal from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 4,830 and Assistant Engineer from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 11,820 per month.
10. It was also decided to reconsider the appointments of the TGTs recommended by HP Subordinate Services Selection Board, Hamirpur during the year 2002.
11. Cabinet decided to grant permission to sell limestone by NMDC to M/S Gujrat Ambuja Cements Limited to manufacture clinker/cement till market tie-up with steel industry and pay royalty on entire limestone as per the rates fixed by the Central Government.
12. It decided to award contract for widening and strengthening of the Jahu-Kalkhar section road of Una-Nerchowk Road under Himachal Pradesh State Roads Project. At a cost of Rs. 33.72 crore.
13. With a view to encourage resource mobilization it was decided to offer incentive to Excise and Taxation Department at the rate of one percent in case of achievement being higher to the targets fixed for the current financial year of 2008-09.
14. It further approved enhancement in the monthly honorarium of the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions w.e.f. 1st April, 2008. Chairperson, Zila Parishad would get Rs. 3,500 instead of Rs. 3,000, Vice- Chairperson to get Rs. 2,500 against Rs. 2,000; Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti to get Rs. 1,800 instead of Rs. 1,500 and Vice Chairperson to get Rs. 1,500 instead of Rs. 1,200. Pradhan Gram Panchayat to get Rs. 1,200 instead of Rs. 1,000; Up-Pradhan to get Rs. 1,000 instead of Rs. 750; Zila Parishad Members to get Rs. 1,500 instead of Rs. 1,350; Panchayat Samiti Members to get Rs. 1,200 against Rs. 1,000 while the sitting fee of the Member Gram Panchayat has also been enhanced from Rs. 125 to Rs. 150 per sitting subject to a maximum of two sittings in a month.
15. It approved creation of Sainik Welfare Department to work effectively to protect the interests of the serving and ex-servicemen and monitor their suitable rehabilitation in public and private sector.
16. Cabinet granted permission to Mapex India Private Limited to make substantial progress in setting up of the sugar cane based unit in district Una by mid-December this year.
17. It consented to sign MOU with Reserve Bank of India to restructure the Urban Cooperative Banks in the State.
18. It approved the conversion of the outstanding loan and interest with State Public Sector Undertakings into Government Equity.
19. It approved amendment in the Guidelines for issue of Essentiality Certificate as also granted one time relaxation in the age for appointment of Pharmacists who had undergone the Diploma in Pharmacy during 1983-84.
20. It approved Amendment in the Guidelines issued by the State Government for Appointment of Anganwari Workers and Helpers granting aggrieved parties time to appeal before the Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Additional District Magistrate within 15 days after declaration of the result to decide the same within 90 days and further appeal against the orders of the Deputy Commissioner to be made before the Divisional Commissioner within 15 days to decide the same within a month.
21. It approved amendment in the Rule 14 of the Rules of Business of the Government of Himachal Pradesh thereby bringing all the cases with regard to framing/amendments in respect of class-II posts to be brought before the Council of Ministers for approval.
22. It approved a Separate Cadre for Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kanga at Tanda after bifurcation from IGMC, Shimla and from the cadre of the Director of Health and Family Welfare Services with a view to equally strengthen the cadre in both the medical colleges.
23. It approved amendment in Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) Revised Rules, 1971 for enhancement of Mining Lease period and powers of the Director of Industries and State Geologist for regulation of Mineral concession.
24. The Cabinet sanctioned 6,080 posts in different departments which include 4,568 posts of Trained Graduate Teachers in the Elementary education Department; 300 posts of Agriculture Extension Officers and 100 posts of Agriculture Development Officers in Agriculture Department; 260 posts of Panchayat Secretaries and 225 posts of Panchayat Sahayaks in Panchayati Raj Department; 200 posts of Language Teachers and 150 posts of Shastri in Elementary Education Department; 88 posts of different categories for 10 Marketing Committees in State Marketing Board; 81 posts of different categories in HP Power Corporation Limited; 47 posts of different categories for Composite Testing Laboratory, Kandaghat; 15 posts of Junior Scale Stenographers in HP Secretariat; 5 posts of drivers in Municipal Corporation; 10 posts of different categories in the Himachal Pradesh High Court; 4 supernumerary posts of GDO Grade I in the Health and Family Welfare Department; 4 posts of Driver-cum-Pump Operators against ex-servicemen quota in State Fire Services; 14 posts of Assistant Librarians for various Government Colleges in the State; 10 posts of steno typists in relaxation of ban in the Excise and Taxation Department.
25. It approved publication of Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Appointment and Conditions of Service of Panchayat Sahayaks) Rules, 2008 by repealing the existing Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Appointment and Conditions of Service of Panchayat Sahayaks in gram Panchayats) Rules, 2005 and amendment in the Recruit and Promotion Rules of HP Medical Education Service Rules-1999; HP Medical Education (Dental) Service Rules, 2006 for the posts of Lecturer (Dentistry) and Professor (Dentistry); HP Horticulture Services (Class-I Gazetted); Rule 21 (i) and 23(2) of HP Departmental Examination Rules, 1997.

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