The State Cabinet which met here Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, expressed great anguish over the repeated ceasefire violations across the LoC and the International Border in Poonch, R.S. Pura and other sectors.The Cabinet deeply mourned the loss of precious lives in these senseless acts of violence and expressed condolences with the bereaved families.It also approved 6% enhancement in the Dearness Allowance (DA) to the State Government employees/ pensioners with effect from 1st January 2015. The revised rate of DA per month shall now be 113% of Basic Pay with effect from 1st January 2015.The arrears on account of additional instalment from January 2015 to July 2015 shall be credited to the individual GPF Accounts of the employees in the month of August 2015 and shall form part of the monthly salary from there onwards.
In respect of such of the State Government employees, who are governed by the New Pension Scheme, the arrears on account of additional instalment from January 2015 to July 2015, shall be paid in cash in month of August 2015 and the employees share @10% shall be deducted at source and credited to their PRAN numbers along with the matching share by the employer. Thereafter, the enhancement in the DA by 6% shall form part of the monthly salary.
Enhancement in DA will also apply to the work charged/ whole time contingent paid employees working in a regular time scale.The cabinet also approved release of DA instalment @ 6% for the State Government pensioners/ family pensioners from 107% to 113% w.e.f 1st January 2015. The arrears on account of the enhanced rate of DA from January 2015 to July 2015 shall be paid to them in cash in the month of August 2015 and shall form part of the monthly pension / family pension there onwards.
In another decision, the cabinet approved the payment of liabilities on account of the functioning of 36 Special/ Additional Mobile Magistrates’ Courts temporarily created to be co-terminus with the period of the Award of the 13th Finance Commission, up to 31-08-2015.A government official in a statement issued here said the Cabinet also decided that these Courts shall, however, cease to exist thereafter and the posts created on this account shall stand abolished.The Cabinet also gave nod to the construction of new Paediatric Hospital within the upcoming 200 bedded Maternity Hospital at Bemina at a cost of Rs 25 crore.The decision was taken to facilitate the availability of Paediatric healthcare facilities alongside the maternity hospital within the same building premises.The cabinet also ordered constitution of a Sub-Committee of the Cabinet, to go-over the cadre review proposal for the IAS and KAS prepared by the establishment-cum-Selection Committee.Deputy Chief Minister shall be the Chairman of the Sub-Committee with Minister for Health and Medical Education, Minister for Science and Technology/Animal Husbandry, Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment and Culture and Minister for Education as its Members.
The Sub-Committee shall submit its report within a month.It also accorded extension for a further period of three years to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in Technical Education Department or till the completion of the 18 new polytechnics in J&K.To oversee the process of construction of 18 new polytechnic colleges the PIU was established in 2010 for a period of 5 years which expired in April 2015. Construction of these polytechnic colleges is under progress and out of these, 3 institutes at Budgam, Samba and Reasi are nearing completion.The cabinet approved transfer of land to the Health and Medical Education Department for establishment of new Medical Colleges at Kathua, Rajouri and Baramulla districts.
However, in the case of the proposed medical college at Kathua 200 Kanal of State land in the two identified villages would be provided to the H&ME department.The cabinet approved launching of a comprehensive Social Security Scheme by the State Government named “Asra” under which the State Government would pay or reimburse premium for the schemes viz. Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana and Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana.
The scheme will provide social security cover to widows, destitute, BPL families and bread winners of such families whose annual income is less than Rs 75,000. The scheme will be executed by the Social Welfare Department and it will also identify all the eligible beneficiaries. Rs 50 crore have been earmarked to implement the scheme this year.
The cabinet accorded sanction to the constitution of an Empowered Committee to approve the formal creation of posts for regularisation of left over eligible DRWs (Daily Rated Workers) engaged prior to 31st January 1994.The Empowered Committee comprises Commissioner Secretary Finance as Chairman and other members from the concerned department, Law Department, GAD and Director Codes who shall be the Member Secretary. The Committee shall give its approval after scrutiny of the proposals in terms of SRO 64 of 1994.It also sanctioned the promotion of S. K. Mishra, IPS to the Grade of DGP (Pay Scale Rs 75000–80000), with effect from 11th May 2015. It also sanctioned promotion of Dr. B. Srinivas IPS to the Grade of ADGP – Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) Pay Scale Rs 67000-79000, with effect from 1st January 2015.
In another decision the Cabinet also accorded sanction to the continuation of the temporary posts of IGP IR Kashmir, IGP IR Jammu, IGP CIV PHQ and IGP Telecommunication of IPS Cadre of J&K for a further period of one year with effect from 1st January 2015, in the Pay Band of Rs 37,400-67,000 with GP of Rs 10,000 in the Super Time Scale -II.However, the Cabinet decided that as a matter of policy, no temporary additions to the IAS, IPS and IFS Cadres be made at any level in future.The cabinet also accorded sanction to the establishment of Sub- Treasuries at Kapran and Zainapora, district Shopian with the creation of 5 posts in each treasury.It also gave nod to the draft Jammu and Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Ordinance. The Ordinance aims at providing a legal framework for regulating the functioning of the private security agencies including their licensing, de-licensing etc.
With the expansion of the economy a large number of private business enterprises have come up in the State which has increased the demand for security, resulting in proliferation of private security agencies. Although, these private security agencies have helped in meeting the security needs, yet their unregulated activities can have serious security implications, therefore there was a need to have a Law for regulating the functioning of these private security agencies.The cabinet also approved retrospective enhancement of salary of the Councillors of LAHDC Leh and Kargil from September 2009 and payment of arrears on account of this from September 2009 up to 13th February 2012.
It also approved transfer of 3 Kanal 7 Marlas of land at Padshahibagh Bijbehara district Anantnag belonging to the Animal Husbandry Department to Tourism Department for the development of integrated wayside facility including high-end restaurant, recreation and shopping area.It also approved transfer of State land measuring 2 Kanal at Estate Jablipora, Bijbehara in exchange to the Animal Husbandry Department for the construction of Block Veterinary office & Hospital.It also approved enhancement of monthly remuneration of Settlement Assistants from the existing Rs 2000 per month to Rs 4500 per month with immediate effect.The cabinet approved creation of 83 posts in the Handicrafts Department by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts.
In another decision Cabinet also approved transfer of land measuring 8 Kanal 6 Marla at Baghi Dilawar Khan, Namchibal, Srinagar under the possession of J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation Ltd. to Higher Education Department for construction of Government Degree College.The Cabinet also approved allotment of 80 Kanals of land in favour of Union Ministry of MSME for setting up of Technology Centre at Industrial Estate, Ghatti, Kathua on long term lease basis under the J&K Land Grants Act 1960.The cabinet accorded sanction to the creation of a post of Public Law Officer in the J&K State Information Commission in the Pay Band of Rs 9300-34,800 with GP of Rs 4800 by corresponding reduction of one post of Under Secretary.Hirdesh Kumar promoted as Com/Secy
The cabinet also approved promotion of Hirdesh Kumar IAS to the Super Time Scale of Rs 37,400-67,000 + GP Rs 10,000 with effect from 1st January 2015.Consequent upon his promotion, Hirdesh Kumar shall be designated as Commissioner Secretary to the Government TE, Youth Service and Sports and IT Department.Cabinet which approved the appointment of Special Secretary Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Majid Bhat as Secretary, J&K Legislative Council on deputation basis in his own pay and grade.It also accorded sanction to the promotion of Director State Motor Garages, G. A. Sofi to a common pool of posts for HoDs, in the Pay Band of Rs 37,400-67,000 with Grade pay of Rs 10,000 with immediate effect.Consequent upon his promotion, G. A. Sofi, Director, State Motor Garages, J&K, is re-designated as Director General, State Motor Garages, J&K. (GNS)