By: Mahesh P
The Cabinet in its meeting held here today decided to set up ‘Skill development Corporation’ which shall be named as ‘Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam’ in order to provide training to the unemployed youth for gainful employment both within and outside the State, as announced by Chief Minister in his Budget Speech.
The Chief Minister will be the Chairman of the Nigam while Minister for Technical Education, Minister for Rural Development; Minister for Labour and Employment and Minister for Education will be included as its members. The step has been taken to encourage public-private interface for providing skills to the youth on a large scale.
The cabinet gave nod to revamp clearance mechanism of State Level Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority for setting up industrial units in the State within 45 days as per Budget Speech of Chief Minister. It was decided that a Nodal officer will be appointed for all new proposals and would be responsible for providing escort services/monitoring of approvals by various departments in respect of that proposal. All the concerned departments will ensure time bound clearances to be given by them for setting up of Industrial Units within time period fixed for departments concerned.
As per the Chief Ministers announcement in the Budget Session, Cabinet took a decision to amend ‘Integrated Scheme for Older Persons’ and it was decided that the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment may start partial funding of the buildings for the Old Age Homes by way of Grant-in-Aid to encourage the participation of society and social organizations in the area of care of old persons.
The Cabinet decided to increase the honorarium of Part time water carriers in education department from the existing Rupees 1500 to Rupees 1700 per month. Fulfilling another Budget announcement made by the Chief Minster to enhance the Grant-in-Aid (GIA) to PTA provided (contract appointee) teachers during, the Cabinet agreed to enhance the same from the existing ratio of 75 percent to 90 percent. It will entail an additional expenditure of Rupees 3, 27,26,565 on State ex-chequer.
Approval was accorded by the Cabinet to issue draft guidelines for 25% admission of children belonging to weaker section of society and disadvantage group in private unaided schools in Himachal Pradesh in accordance with the provisions of Right to Education Act 2009. It was also decided that in Middle Schools the number of Children should be 40 for this purpose.
The Cabinet accorded approval to open new government degree colleges along with creation of posts at Bharali in the interior Anjbhoj Transgiri area in Paonta Sahib of district Sirmaur, at Barotiwala in Solan district and at Panarasa, In district Mandi as earlier announced by Chief Minister.
Decision was taken to provide enhancement in subsidy component for distribution of pulses under State Subsidy Scheme. The Cabinet gave its nod to increase the rate of Subsidy on pulses from Rupees 20 (+/- 10%) to Rupees 30, which would provide much needed relief to the consumers. It was also decided that the department would select three pulses out of five being given to the consumers with the lowest quoted rates.
It was decided to continue the Market Intervention scheme for procurement of Citrus fruits. Under the scheme 500 metric tonees of Class –B Kinnu, Malta and Orange would be procured at Rupees 6.50 per Kilogram and 100 metric tonnes of Galgal would be procured at Rupees 5 per Kilogram. It was also decided to enhance the monthly honorarium of Gram Rozgar Sevaks from Rupees 3600 to Rupees 5000 per month .
Decision was taken to open Primary Health Center at Gumma in and at Dewat in Gram Panchayat Dewat in Tehsil Chopal. It also decided to create as many as 10 posts including that of medical officers and paramedical staff for Community Health Center Rohanda.The Cabinet decided to fill up one post of Opthalmic officer in Health and Family Welfare department on contract basis through service selection board.
The cabinet gave its nod to fill up 100 posts of Junior office Assistants (IT) against vacant posts of clerks through HP Subordinate Selection Board in elementary education department. It also decided to fill nine posts of Junior Office Assistants on contract basis in Planning department.
Decision was taken to fill up two posts of statistical assistants on contract basis in Tribal development department. It also decided to fill up one post of junior office assistant in planning department on contract basis.
The Cabinet decided to open four Fire posts as per Chief Minister Budget announcements at Sunni in Shimla Rural, Sarkaghat in district Mandi, Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district and Baijnath in district Kangra. Besides, the Cabinet also approved to fill 15 posts of leading firemen by way of promotion, 30 posts of Driver-cum-Pump operators and 45 posts of firemen to be filled on contract basis for the 15 fire posts in the State.
The Cabinet also decided to create a post of Principal on regular basis for Institute of Children with Special Ability (ICSA), at Sundernagar. The Cabinet further decided to waive-off the registration fees as well as stamps duty for construction of Food Storage Go downs wherein the State Government was providing land to Food Corporation of India on lease basis.
Nod was given by the Cabinet to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Uttrakhand for execution of Kishau Multipurpose Project (660 MW) on Tons River. Approval was accorded to close liquor Vend at Deiya in Chopal on the resolution received from Gram Panchayat on behalf of local Mahila Mandal, which had opposed it. Nod was given by the Cabinet to establish special Land Acquisition Unit at Nalagarh to acquire land for four-laning of National Highway 21.
The Cabinet decided to reduce rate of Value added Tax from 13.75 percent to 5 percent on LED Bulbs and on fabrication of bodies of Trucks and Buses in the State. It was also decided to exempt Vat on energy efficient Chullahas as per announcement of Chief Minister in his Budget Speech.
The Cabinet decided to amend the Himachal Pradesh Tax on Luxuries (in hotels and lodging houses) Act, 1979. Approval was accorded by the Cabinet to reduce the existing rate of Tax on Certain Goods Carried by Road (CGCR Tax), particularly on packed drinking water, from Rupees 7.50 per 10 litres to Rupees 2 per 10 litres. It also accorded its approval for amendment in section 4-A of HP Taxation on CGCR Act, 1999.
The Cabinet approved amendment in Section-4 of the HP Passenger and Goods Taxation Act 1955. It was also decided for e filing of returns under the HP Passenger and Goods Taxation Act 1955, which would provide traders an opportunity to deposit Tax and to file e-returns online. To provide facilities to traders and manufacturers to deposit the tax online, a decision was taken by the Cabinet for filing e-returns under the Himachal Pradesh Taxation on CGCR Act 1999.
