The Punjab Cabinet today okayed the Punjab Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishment) Bill 2012 to safeguard the interests of general public and save them from the fraudulent practices of the private Non Banking finance companies as per the advice of the Reserve Bank of India. A decision to this effect was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this evening.Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of Chief Minister’s Office said that under the provisions of bill, all non banking financial companies have to inform designated officers failing which the defaulter companies would attract imprisonment of three months or fine of Rs 1000. In case of non return of depositors money or any fraud with the depositor would attract imprisonment up to six years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh. In such cases even the properties of the managers/owners could also be attached. The Cabinet also approved the implementation of Punjab Rent Act 1995 with effect prospective effect meaning thereby that the act would apply to tenancies existing on the date of notification of act. The existing tenancies would continue to be governed by the Eastern Punjab Rent Restriction Act, 1949. The new act provides for a compulsory registration of the tenancy agreement between the landlord and the tenant. The act is expected to boost investments in real estate and promote tenancy and rent market. The Cabinet also approved the Punjab Housing and Habitat Policy-2008 (PHHP) aimed at achieving the objective of affordable housing for all in rural and urban areas. The need for formulating the PHHP emerged from the growing requirements of shelter and related infrastructure both at rural and urban centers and also due to the change in economic and social environment, growing urbanization, mismatch in demand and supply of developed land and houses at affordable rates and inability of poorer sections of the population to have access to formal land markets and finances from financial institutions leading to a non-sustainable situation. The State Government therefore has adopted a definite and implementable Habitat Agenda offering a vision to achieve sustainable development of both rural and urban areas with a healthy and safe environment. The Cabinet also gave approval to the Punjab Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Rules 2012 to instill a sense of self respect and dignity besides a feeling of social security amongst the elderly.The Cabinet also approved to exempt 3% of Industrial Cess levied by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) on the export of Basmati rice for the year 2012-13.
The Cabinet also approved to create two posts of Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) for the Khanna and Phagwara Sub pisions.
The Cabinet also gave nod to accord Sub pisional status to Maur Sub Tehsil in Bathinda district. The Cabinet also gave go ahead for creation 84 new posts of Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies besides 21 Computer Teachers in 21 new model schools across the state. Apart from these, 21 class-4 (group D) posts have also been approved to be outsourced.
The Cabinet also approved to re-create three posts of Professors and two posts of Lecturers in the Government Mental Hospital, Amritsar to begin M.Sc. Course in Psychiatric Nursing. Likewise, the Cabinet also approved re-creation/upgradation of 12 posts in the Punjab Legal Services Authority and of the offices Permanent Lok Adalts under their control. The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for introduction new restructured defined Contributory Pension Scheme for employees of Autonomous Bodies and Public Sector Undertaking.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Department to give government job to next of the kin of the two persons killed during the violent incident in village Aklian of Mansa district on July 24, 2012.The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto sanction for the creation of New Sessions pision Moga thereby altering the limits of Sessions pision Faridkot. The Cabinet also approved the Punjab Municipal Citizens’ Participation Bill 2012 for bringing ordinance related to the Municipalities and Municipal Corporations in the state to institutionalize citizen’s participation in Municipal functions by setting up of area sabhas. A three tier structure including area Sabha, ward committee and Municipality/Municipal Corporation has been envisaged in the ordinance. The Cabinet also approved to amend Punjab Agriculture Produce Markets Act 1961 for supersession of the nominated Market Committees thereby appointing Administrators to look after the day-to-day affairs of these committees empowering them for a term of one year or till the nomination of New Market Committees, whichever is earlier.The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to restore pensionary benefits to the teachers and employees of Private Aided schools who retired after 31-05-2003 by issuing a notification under the Privately Managed Recognized Aided Schools Retirement Benefit Scheme 2012.The Cabinet also cleared the proposal for the creation of new posts including Secretary/Additional Secretary and five managers in the Investment promotion department at New Delhi to bring in efficiency and ensure result oriented functioning for wooing the prospective entrepreneurs to make huge investments in the state. The Cabinet also approved the filling of 292 vacancies in Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defence department through the Departmental selection committee after taking out them from the preview of Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board. The Cabinet also approved the draft rules for the notification of Punjab Prohibition of Child Marriage rules 2012 under the sub section (2) of section 19 (1) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.