On the recommendations of the State Backward Classes Commission, the Punjab Cabinet today approved the inclusion of Gosai/Goswami, Yadav/Aahir and Rabari Communities in the list of Backward Classes of the state so as to raise their status in the society. A decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan, this evening.Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet also gave green signal to amend the current list of backward classes of Punjab to include these castes in view of the requisite economic, social and academic status of these communities. In another important decision keeping in view the inconvenience faced by general public of Ahmedgarh area, the Cabinet also decided to upgrade Sub Tehsil Ahmedgarh to Sub Division/Tehsil at Ahmedgarh. At present, Ahmedgarh falls in district Sangrur and its residents have to visit Sub Division/Tehsil office situated at Sangrur for their revenue related works.Keeping in view the inconvenience faced by general public of Ajitwal and Samaalsar area, the Cabinet also decided to accord status of Sub Tehsil to Ajitwal and Samaalsar in Moga district besides giving nod for creation of office staff at both the places. At present, Ajitwal and Samaalsar falls in district Moga and its residents have to visit Sub Division/Tehsil office situated at Moga for their revenue related works.
The Cabinet also approved the recommendations of Cabinet Sub-committee comprising Food & Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon and Finance Minister Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa regarding the settlement of legacy food credit account. After due deliberations, the Cabinet Sub-committee recommended that the terms as approved by State Bank of India in its meeting held on September 20, 2016 has agreed to reduce the rate of interest from 9.26% to 8.25%.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also decided to extend the Bhagat Puran Singh Sehat Beema Yojna to provide Health insurance to 40 lakh Blue Card Holders, Farmers, Traders and Labourer Families. This policy started in November 2015 was expiring on October 31, 2016 henceforth the Cabinet gave its nod to extend this policy from November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017. At present around 24.72 lakh beneficiaries were availing the benefits of this scheme which include Health insurance worth Rs 50000, compensation of Rs 5 lakh in case of accidental death or disability of head of family besides compensation of Rs 5 lakh to enrolled traders in case of fire in their official premises. In the extended policy, around 40 lakh beneficiaries would avail the benefit of this scheme from November 1, 2016 at a cost of Rs 180 crore to be borne by the state government.
With a view to providing the best medical and health care facilities to the people in the region, the Cabinet gave approval for the up-gradation of Civil Dispensary, Bhogpur to Primary Health Centre in the larger public interest. The Cabinet also gave approval to sanction 13 new posts of requisite staff.Taking cognizance of the recovery process initiated by the Cane commissioner in compliance with the decision taken by the Cabinet on September 10, 2015 and November 19, 2015 for recovering Rs 50 per quintal from Private Sugar Mills, the Cabinet also approved the proposal of Agriculture Department to ensure recovery of Rs 213 crore from the Private Sugar Mills for the outstanding payment of sugar cane dues to the farmers. It was further decided that since the farmers dues were to be paid, hence the state government would pay the remaining Rs 112 crore as a stopgap arrangement.
In view of the newly set up Directorate of Special Component Plan under the administrative control of Welfare Department, the Cabinet also approved the framing of Group ‘B’ Service Rules of Directorate of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP). It may be recalled that the Directorate of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan has been declared as Nodal department for the formulation and monitoring of the implementation of SCSP. Initially, Service Rules of Planning Department were temporarily adopted for the regulation of services of new Directorate until the formulation of its own Service Rules. Meanwhile, the Group ‘A’ and Group ‘C’ Service Rules of Directorate of Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan have already been notified on June 28, 2016 with the approval of Cabinet.