Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave its consent to constitute 6th State Finance Commission. The Commission will review the financial position of the panchayats and urban local bodies and make recommendations to the Governor regarding measures needed to improve the financial position of these panchayats and urban local bodies determination of taxes, duties, tolls and fees, grants in aid to panchayats from the consolidated Fund of the State and any other matter regarding sound finances of the Panchayats and urban local bodies.The Cabinet also decided to increase the honorarium of Jal Rakshaks/Para Fitters and Para Pump Operators in Jal Shakti Vibhag by Rs. 300 per month. With this increase, now Jal Rakshaks would get Rs. 3300 per month whereas Para Fitters and Para Pump Operators would get an honorarium of Rs. 4300 per month.It gave its nod to amend the income criteria for eligibility of 3/2 Biswas land in Rural/Urban areas of the State to houseless persons/families by enhancing it from existing Rs. 50,000 to Rs. one lakh per annum, so that more people could get benefit of this scheme.The Cabinet accorded its approval for procurement, supply and distribution of school bags under Atal School Vardi Yojna to the school students of 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th classes on e-tender basis through Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. for the year 2020-21.
This would benefit 2,56,514 students of these classes.It decided to create a State Disaster Mitigation Fund and approved the guidelines for the administration of the Fund under Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Rules, 2011 to meet the expenses on mitigation, as preparedness and response activities are covered under a separate fund known as State Disaster Management Fund. Under this Fund, 20 percent of the State Disaster Risk Management Fund would be used for mitigation, which comes to Rs. 90.80 crore for the current financial year. Besides, funds worth Rs. 50 crore have also been recommended for managing Seismic and Landslide Risks in hill States from National Disaster Mitigation Fund to the State.It gave its consent to establish a Silkworm Seed Production Centre at Thunag in Mandi district alongwith creation and filling up of four posts of different categories to man this Centre.The Cabinet accorded its nod to open a new Government Polytechnic Institute in Sulah Vidhan Sabha area of Kangra district alongwith creation and filling up of 29 posts of different categories to manage this institution.It decided to create and fill up three more posts of different categories in Civil Hospital, Tihra in district Mandi for its smooth functioning.