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HP Cabinet Decisions Oct 24, 2019: I&PH Department Renamed, Approved Three Policies, Filling up Various Posts
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet meeting was held on October 25, 2019. The Cabinet, as one of the decisions today renamed Irrigation and Public Health Department as ‘Jal Shakti Vibhag’.
Statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be set up at Shimla and Manali in Kullu district, the Cabinet approved.
The Cabinet agreed to transfer the forest land of Animal Husbandry Department at Mohal Ching Dharmana, Patwar Circle Anti, Tehsil Jubbal in Shimla district in favour of Shrimadbhagwadgeeta Prachar Avam Jan Jagran Sabha, Nankhari in district Shimla for setting up of Gausadan.
The stipend of Interns of MBBS/BDS in all government medical/ dental colleges in Himachal was increased from Rs. 15000 to Rs. 17000.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to increase the income limit for getting employment on compassionate grounds in the government sector from Rs. 2.25 lakh to Rs. 2.50 lakh per annum.
The Cabinet gave its approval to convert all the part-timers completing eight years of uninterrupted services on 31 March 2019, and 30 September 2019, as daily wagers including part-time water carriers in the education department.
HP Cabinet Approved Creating/Filling Up Following Posts
- Filling up six posts of Extension Officers (Industries) in the Industries Department on a contract basis.
- Creation of 23 posts of different categories for proposed Fire Sub Station at Jhanduta in Bilaspur.
- Filling up 15 posts of Assistant Professors of different faculties in Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College Nerchowk, Mandi through H.P. Public Service Commission on a regular basis.
- Creating and filling up three posts of Tehsildar in the Public Works Department.
- Filling up three posts of Planning Officer in Town and Country Planning Department in relaxation of R& P Rules.
- Filling up nine posts of skilled grafters in the Horticulture Department through direct recruitment on a contract basis.
- Filling up four posts of Platoon Commanders in Home Guards and Civil Defence Department.
- Filling up 13 posts of Election Kanungo in State Election Department through direct recruitment on a contract basis.
- Filling up 34 posts of different categories in Himachal Pradesh Technical University.
The Cabinet approved the Affordable Housing Policy, 2019. The purpose would be to address problems related to housing for the urban poor including slum rehabilitation and redevelopment and to promote mixed housing development in all new housing projects
The Cabinet approved revised guidelines for Tourism Department for issuance of Essentiality Certificates under the provisions of Rule 38(a)(3) (f) of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Rules in cases where non-agriculturists wishes to purchase land in the State for setting up of tourism units. The promoter will have to submit a Preliminary Project Report of Tourism Project for which the Essentiality Certificate is required to the Director, Tourism, who will assess the land required for the tourism project.
Five Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts in Bilaspur, Solan, Kullu, Shimla and Nurpur in Kangra district would be established for facilitating and treatment of affected people, the Cabinet decided.
The Cabinet approved the HP AYUSH Policy, 2019, under which AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries would be upgraded, and incentives would be given for prospective investors in AYUSH and Wellness Sector.
The Fiscal Incentives under HP AYUSH Policy, 2019 for Investors Are:
- Capital subsidy on Ayush Therapy unit at the rate of 25 percent of the Fixed Capital Investment with a ceiling of Rs.
- One crore excluding cost of land, the interest subvention of 4 percent on term loan with a ceiling of Rs. 15 lakh per annum,
- Net SGST reimbursement at the rate of 75 percent for seven years,
- Incentives for initiatives in power saving,
- Environmental conservation and for women entrepreneurs, recruitment assistance will be provided in giving employment to Himachali bonafide besides this, lease rental subsidy and rebate on stamp duty will be given to selective investible projects.
It also gave its nod to new IT, ITes and ESDM Policy, 2019 to attract ITeS and ESDM companies. Infrastructure would be prepared to the suitability of IT, ITeS and ESDM industry requirements.
A Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) would be formed to regulate and promote real estate sector Himachal. About 46 posts of different categories including Chairman and Members to manage the Authority would be created for this body.
For Himachal’s traditional handloom, handicrafts and artisans, the State the Cabinet approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Gram Kaushal Yojna’ in the State.
The Cabinet gave its approval to merge technical staff of H.P. State Education Society in Public Works Department and Irrigation and Public Health Department in one time relaxation in the R&P Rules for the posts of Assistant Engineer, Civil, Junior Engineer, Civil and Junior Draftsman.
It decided to create five posts of different categories in Sub Divisional Election Offices, Indora and Dheera in Kangra district and Sub Divisional Election Office Pangi in Chamba district.
It also decided to provide fortified wheat flour to all the ration card holders including NFSA categories (AAY, BPL and Priority Households) to reduce dietary deficiencies across population groups.
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.
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