In a bid to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the state on one hand, bring in efficiency in the administration and provide better public services to the citizens of the state, the Punjab Cabinet today gave nod for launching a major recruitment drive to fill 1,13,766 vacant posts in various departments.A decision to this effect was taken in the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at his office, this morning.Disclosing this here today, Advisor to Chief Minister on National Affairs and Media Mr. Harcharan Bains said that the Cabinet directed the state government to complete the process of recruitment on these posts in a fast track mode, to be completed within a year. The major departments in which these posts would be filled were: 30,000 in school education, 39821 in power sector, 5301 in Health department, 3500 in agriculture, 4566 in cooperation department, 2198 in higher education, 2072 in irrigation, 2852 in PWD (B&R), 2628 in Revenue, 3952 in Transport and 1584 in Water Supply and sanitation departments.
Taking cognizance of recent incidents of the desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Cabinet also gave green signal to introduce a new amend section 295 AA in the Indian Penal Code 1860, which would provide punishment of life imprisonment for offenders committing heinous acts of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. This step would act as a deterrent to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in future. This amendment was all the more necessitated as the existing provisions of the said Act in Section 295, 295A and 296 though dealt with these matters but do not provide deterrent punishment for such unfortunate incidents related to sacrilege.The Cabinet also decided to enhance old age pension, pensions for widow destitute women, orphan children and disabled persons from Rs.250 to Rs.500 per month. This pro-poor initiative would provide far more social security to nearly 16.50 lac beneficiaries including elderly people, widows, dependent children and disabled persons and this decision would involve an additional financial liability of Rs.495 crore annually. Pensions henceforth would be disbursed through Panchayats. The new rates of pensions would be effective from January 1, 2016.
The Cabinet also approved a novel scheme ‘Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme’ for providing free pilgrimage to sacred cities of Sri Nanded Sahib, Varanasi, Katra (Mata Vaishno Devi) and Ajmer Sharif.The state government would organise free trains to these cities for the people from Punjab and also provide other logistic facilities to pilgrims. Under this ambitious scheme, 1050 people from each assembly constituency would be offered this facility of free travel to these pilgrimages. This scheme would be implemented from January 1, 2016 and the pilgrims would be served food during the travel without any charge. The beneficiaries for the scheme would be identified by the respective Deputy Commissioners in the state and the said scheme would entail an expenditure of Rs 186.82 crore. A Cabinet Sub committee comprising of Tourism Minister, Education Minister and Transport Minister would monitor this scheme.In a pro-poor initiative to provide far better health care services to economically weaker sections of the society to further improve their quality of life, the Cabinet decided to enhance the existing limit of free treatment in government and private hospitals to nearly 28.50 lakh blue card holders from Rs 30,000 under ‘Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna’ to Rs 50,000 annually.
Apart from this in case of accidental death or incapacitation of a head of registered family under this scheme, the affected family would get compensation of Rs.5 lakh. It may be recalled that the registration work under this scheme had already begun since October 2, 2015.In a pro-farmer initiative, the Cabinet also decided to implement health & personal accident insurance scheme for all those farmers who bring their produce to the Purchase Centres established by the Punjab Mandi Board and hold J- farms. All the farmers would be provided a health insurance cover of Rs.50,000 and an insurance of Rs.5 lac in case of accidental death or incapacitation of head of family. As per available information nearly 11 lac farmers would be benefited under this scheme. The premium for providing this health and personal accident scheme to the farmers would be paid by the government. A committee of Education Minister and Health Minister would coordinate and monitor these schemes.
While recognizing the significant role played by Nambardars in carrying out social and administrative work, the Cabinet decided to enhance the monthly honorarium paid to the Nambardars from Rs.1000 to Rs.1500, which would cost the state exchequer an additional sum of Rs 19 crore.The state government has constituted a large number of supervisory committees in various departments at districts and sub divisional level, which comprise of many public representatives. In order to appreciate the participation and acknowledge the contribution of public representatives in safeguarding and projecting the interests of general public in such committees, the Cabinet decided to give an honorarium of Rs 200 per meeting to each public member on these committees. It was also decided that such meetings at district level would be chaired by a Minister or a Chief Parliamentary Secretary. Holding of regular meetings of such committees had been made mandatory. A monthly report of such meetings would be submitted to Chief Minister by the Chief Secretary.
In a bid to look into the issues and problems faced by the various industrial associations in the state, the Cabinet also decided to set up a Ministerial committee under the Chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister with Industries & Commerce and Finance Ministers as its members. The Committee would dwell upon the issues and problems raised by the industry and place its recommendations before the government for its resolution.The Cabinet also decided that the state government would ensure payment of sugarcane price @ Rs.295 per quintal by the mills under all circumstances, while reviewing the hardships being faced by the sugarcane growers and sugar mills in view of the depressed sugar market. Meanwhile, it was clarified that the mills would pay Rs.245 per quintal, whereas the government would pay a subsidy of Rs.50 per quintal for the current crushing season i.e. 2015-16.The Cabinet also decided to waive guarantee fee of Rs 4 crore on soft loan to be arranged for private sugar mills to enable them to clear the pending cane dues of the farmers. The interest on soft loan for three and half years would also be borne by the Government to ensure that private sugar mills pay sugarcane arrears to the farmers.
In a major relief to the family members of the farmers and farm labours who committed suicides, the Cabinet approved the policy guidelines for relief and rehabilitation of these affected families. Among other aspects, the policy provides for enhancement of financial assistance of Rs.2 lac to Rs.3 lac to families of farmers and farm labourers affected by suicides. The policy also envisages priority assistance and grants to these families under various schemes of the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry. These schemes include Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and National Horticulture Mission (NHM), etc. Apart from this, the policy envisages increased institutional finance to the farmers. A committee under the Financial Commissioner Revenue had also been set up at the state level to review and monitor the implementation of the policy at regular periodic intervals.
In recognition with the enormous contribution of Sangharshi Yodhas during their participation in Morcha against Emergency and Punjabi Suba Morcha to safeguard the interests of Punjab and who had undergone imprisonment, the Cabinet approved a slew of facilities for them keeping in view their sacrifices. These facilities included a pension of Rs 1000 per month to the yodha/ his family, grant of Sanman Patras, issuance of instructions to all the heads of departments that wherever Sangharshi Yodhas visit the Government Offices, they may be properly entertained and their grievances be removed immediately, sending of formal invitation to the Sangharshi Yodhas for the District Level functions on Independence Day and Republic Day. In case of the death of Sangharshi Yodha due to any reason, the financial assistance would be disbursed to his widow. The claims for such assistance would be verified by a committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner in their respective districts.
In another significant move, the Cabinet also decided to slash rates of VAT on Dry Fruits, Khal & Binola and LED lights. The VAT rates have been reduced from 5.5% to 4.5% on dry fruits, from 5.5% to 2% on Khal and Binola, from 13% to 5.5% on LED lights, 10% surcharge as levied earlier would continue as such. The Central Sales Tax (CST) has been reduced from 2% to 1%. In another significant decision, the VAT levied on construction material etc. used for new Gaushalas have been capped at Rs 5 lakh per year. The VAT on consumables in Gaushalas have also been capped at Rs 3 lakh per year.
The Cabinet also gave a go ahead to give government jobs to the son of late Krishan Bhagwan Singh of village Behabalpur and Jagdeep Singh, the brother of late Gurjit Singh of Village Sarawan of Tehsil Jaiton in district Faridkot for the posts of senior Lab attendant in Education department on compassionate grounds. Both Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh were killed during a protest against the unfortunate incidents of desecration of Sri Guru Granth Sahib on October 14, 2015.
The Cabinet also accorded approval for the creation of a post of Chief Engineer in the Engineering Wing of Rural Development & Panchayats Department.
The Cabinet also gave an approval to constitute a high powered committee comprising of Transport Minister, Finance Minister ande Irrigation Minister for rationalising Motor Vehicle Tax for transport vehicles under the Punjab Motor Vehicle Act.In order to streamline the functioning of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board and to accelerate the development of infrastructure in the state, the Cabinet approved certain amendments in the Punjab Infrastructure (Development & Regulation) Act 2002. These amendments would ensure smooth operation of provisions of Act, provide enabling powers for undertaking infra structure projects of various kinds besides bringing far more clarity in the existing provisions of the act.The Cabinet also gave approval for the creation of three new posts of Deputy Inspector Generals of Jails in Amritsar, Ferozepur and Patiala Jail.The Cabinet also gave approval to disburse grants received from the 14th Finance Commission after making certain amendments as per the recommendations made by the 4th Punjab Finance Commission.