News
AAP gearing up for HP Assembly Polls 2017, hopes people to vote for long awaited change
SHIMLA- After Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party is optimistic about its electoral prospects in the states of Himachal Pradesh.
Considering the recent CAG reports, jaundice outbreak, laborers exploitation in Kinnuar, unplanned and vision-less urbanization, and corruption charges against CM Virbhadra Singh, party is expecting people to vote for long awaited change. Both BJP and Congress have taken their turns to run the government, but could not give anything to Himachal except a debt of about 38,000 crore.
Other than Himachal, local units have already begun to prepare themselves for state elections in Goa, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh,say party leaders.
According to a senior National Executive member,
As compared to other states, our party organizations in the states of Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are much stronger. These are very much being consideration, though a final decision will be taken at the right time.
He added that, of these names, only Goa does not have a full time Convener but that appointment will be done soon and, like the other state conveners, the person will also be a part of the NC.
Polls are due in Goa and Himachal Pradesh in 2017, while Karnataka and MP will likely see polls in 2018. Local units’ ability to build strong party organisations will decide if AAP contests polls.
Expansion beyond Delhi and Punjab and contesting elections in other states was on the mind of several AAP leaders when the National Council (NC) of the party met to re-elect its national level bodies and office bearers. Convener and Supremo Arvind Kejriwal made his position on the issue clear in a 24 minute address. Conceding that many party members had approached him to discuss contesting elections in other states, including those in which they knew victory was not possible, Kejriwal underlined probability of victory as a key factor to contest polls.
This key or decision (sic.) about contesting is not in my hands. It is in your hands. Wherever conditions are created for 50: 50 probability of winning (we will contest). If the conditions are created, then what opposition can there be in contesting elections? Surely, we will contest elections. But not for winning 3 out of 100 seats, 90 out of 100. Victory or defeat is in god’s hands, not ours. But at least there should be chances of winning,
said Kejriwal. Emphasising that contesting elections was a means to “changing the system”, he implored party colleagues to do the “hard work” of door to door campaigning and preparing booth volunteers.
That AAP is taking other states seriously can be seen example of Karnataka State Convener, Prithvi Reddy. Previously tasked with multiple responsibilities, this time around his sole responsibility as member of the NC is Karnataka. When asked if he has begun preparing for 2018 state elections, Reddy said,
Yes. Party has set certain parameters to take those decisions, so I have taken the challenge and announced that we will meet those criteria. I have invited volunteers from across the country to come to Karnataka in 2018 and campaign.
Speaking at the meeting for reelection of AAP’s top national body, Supremo Arvind Kejriwal said,
There is a Delhi Model of governance and then Gujarat Model. We invite everyone to compare the two models. See our Mohalla Clinics, the works we are doing. A story was done during Lok Sabha elections: Gujarat Model. We also went to schools and hospitals in Gujarat, schools are in and shape, healthcare is in bad shape. Now everyone knows now what Gujarat Model is. People have been cheated in the name of Gujarat Model.
Photo: Indian Express
Shimla-Himachal Pradesh Government employees working in different departments before January 3, 2022, would be given a higher scale at par with other employees on completion of two years tenure of regular service. A higher pay scale was also announced for the Junior Office Assistants (IT) on completion of two years of regular service.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur made these announcements during the Karamchari Maha Sammelan of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Gazetted Employees Federation at the hotel Peterhof on Sunday.
He appreciated the role played by the employee especially frontline workers in the battle against the pandemic.
He said most of the government employees in the state have been given revised pay scales and on average, every employee has got the benefit of a 12 to 15 percent salary hike. There has also been an increase in the pension of about 1.50 lakh pensioners of the state. The financial benefits of Rs. 7801 crore have been given to state government employees and pensioners from the year 2018 to 2022. The pensioners who retired before 2016 are getting the benefit of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the pension while around 40 thousand pensioners who retired after 2016 would be benefitted soon, he said.
He said the daily wages were Rs. 210 in the year 2017 which has been increased by the present state government to Rs. 350. Similarly, 12 per cent interim relief annually has been provided to government employees and pensioners during the present government’s tenure. He said the Himachal government has provided Dearness Allowance to its employees and pensioners on the lines of Punjab and Central governments from the due date. The Punjab government has given only 5 percent interim relief to the employees while the Himachal government has provided 21 percent interim relief to its employees.
“Out of the total interim relief amount given to the employees and pensioners amounting to about Rs. 6500 crore, Rs. 3500 crore has been paid during the tenure of our government” added the Chief Minister.
He said that the state government has increased the government contribution for NPS employees from 10 percent to 14 percent benefitting more than one lakh employees. The NPS employees are being given the benefits of retirement and death gratuity at par with employees falling under the old pension scheme. The government has also increased the upper limit of death gratuity from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
The Chief Minister said the state government has also increased the honorarium of para-workers working in various departments. The salary of outsource workers has been hiked by Rs 1,500 per month.
Non-Gazetted Employees Federation President Ashwani Thakur thanked the Chief Minister for providing various financial and other benefits to different categories of government employees.
New Delhi-The Centre has issued a notification to the States informing that the provisions of the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005 will not be invoked in the country after March 31. The Union Health Ministry said that the use of face masks and following hand hygiene will continue.
It implies that most of the Covid-related rules and restrictions would end.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the notification which said that the decision was taken following the overall improvement in the situation and the preparedness of the government in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, local authorities and State police can still invoke fines and criminal cases against persons violating COVID-19 norms under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a senior government official said.
The DM Act was invoked on March 24, 2020, due to the pandemic
“Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%. It is also worth mentioning that with the combined efforts, a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered,” the notification said.
“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at a local level, as advised by MoHFW (Health Ministry) from time to time,” the notification said.
The Indian government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.
India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.
Shimla-A meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet was held on March 20, 2022, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
The excise policy for the financial year 2022-23 was approved. Approval was also given for the renewal of retail excise vends in the state for the financial year 2022-23 at the renewal fees of 4% of the value of unit/vend.
The State Government said that wants to enhance the government revenue and curb the smuggling of country liquor from the neighbouring states by a reduction in its price.
The brands of Country Liquor will be cheaper as license fees have been reduced. This will help in providing good quality liquor at a cheaper rate to the consumers.
In the new excise policy, the 15% fixed quota of country liquor for manufacturers and bottlers to be supplied to the retail licensees has been abolished. According to the government, this step will give the retail licensees to lift their quota from the suppliers of their choice and further assure the supply of good quality country liquor at competitive prices. The MRP of country liquor will be cheaper by 16% of the existing price.
In this year’s policy, the Gaudhan Vikas Nidhi Fund has been enhanced by Re.1/- from the existing Rs.1.50 to Rs.2.50.
The fixed annual license fee of Bars has been rationalized by abolishing the area-specific slabs of license fee. Now throughout the State, there will be uniform license slabs based upon the room capacity in hotels.
Rates of the annual fixed license fee of Bars in the tribal areas has been reduced considerably.
Further, all the above stakeholders will have to install CCTV cameras at their establishments as it was made mandatory for them.
Wholesale vends and retail vends, the penalty provisions under the H.P. Excise Act, 2011 have been made more stringent.
An end to end online Excise Administration System would be established in Himachal Pradesh, the government said.
HP Government estimates a collection of Rs 2131 crore revenue during the year, which will be Rs. 264 crores higher than the financial year 2021-22 – growth of 14% in state excise revenues.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to amend Himachal Pradesh Disaster Relief Manual-2012 to include deaths due to biting of honey bees, hornet and wasps, accidental drowning and deaths due to accidents of vehicles (including land, water and air) under this Manual.
The Cabinet gave its approval for filling up 11 posts of ‘A’ Class Tehsildar in Revenue Department through direct recruitment on regular basis through Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.
HP State Toll Policy 2022-23
The HP Cabinet also gave its nod to HP State Toll Policy for the year 2022-23 which envisages auction cum tender for all the toll barriers in the State. During the year 2021-22, toll revenue has registered a growth of 20 percent of the previous year’s revenue.
A young leader’s activism combined with the concept of ‘Himachaliyat’ and ‘Virbhadra Singh Vikas Model’ may be a gamechanger for the Congress in Himachal
Paradox in Hatti Community’s Demand for Tribal Status
HP Govt Employees to Get Higher Pay Scale on Completion of Two Years of Service: CM Jairam
Most Covid Restrictions to be Lifted From March 31, Mask and Hand Hygiene to Continue
Home Decor Ideas 2020
