Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday led the Council of Ministers in paying homage to the 20 Indian soldiers killed while protecting India’s borders and territorial integrity.All members of the Cabinet stood in silence for two-minute before passing a condolence resolution in honour and memory of those killed in action on June 15 in Ladakh.
CABINET SANCTIONS 12 POSTS FOR TRANSPARENCY COMMISSION
To provide administrative, technical and legal assistance to enable the Punjab Transparency and Accountability Commission to effective discharge its responsibility, the Cabinet today accorded its sanction for 12 posts across these functions. The Commission, it may be recalled, was constituted in accordance with the provisions of section 12 sub-section (1) of the Punjab Transparency and Accountability in Delivery of Public Service Act, 2018. The Punjab Transparency and Accountability Commission would be instrumental in developing a culture of delivering public service within stipulated time limit and monitor the same. It would also device mechanisms for evaluation and benchmarking the performance of the public authority in delivery of public services.
REGULAR FACULTY TO BE APPOINTED AT RAMPURA PHUL VETERINARY COLLEGE
In another decision, the Cabinet also approved full faculty strength as per the regulations of Veterinary Council of India (VCI) for Veterinary College, Rampura Phul, to ensure its optimal functioning. This initiative would lead to regular appointments of one Dean, 17 professors and 23 Associate Professors on full salary up to 2022-23. The Cabinet has taken this decision by allowing exemption in the notification dated January 1, 2015, as a special case as permitted for faculty positions in the Medical Institutes in Punjab.
NOD TO NEW CHEMICAL LAB AT JALANDHAR
To bring down the pendency of samples of viscera, blood alcohol and excise samples in the Chemical Examiner Laboratory, Kharar, the Cabinet has accorded approval to establish a new Chemical Laboratory at Jalandhar, with creation of 21 posts involving annual financial liability of Rs. 42.31 lakh. The new posts include one each of Medical Officer-cum-Assistant Chemical Examiner (Medical) and Assistant Chemical Examiner (Non-Medical), Six Analysts, one Senior Assistant, two clerks, five medical lab technician Grade-II, three lab attendants and two class-IV employees.
PUNJAB POLICE INVESTIGATION CADRE SUBORDINATE RANKS RULES APPROVED
The Council of Ministers has approved ‘the Punjab Police Investigation Cadre Subordinate Ranks (Appointment and Condition of Service) Rules, 2020’ to govern the recruitment/appointment and the conditions of service of subordinate ranks (constables to inspectors) of the Punjab Bureau of Investigation Cadre.
ANNUAL & 4-YEAR STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS APPROVED FOR 8 GOVT DEPARTMENTS
To ensure all-round development of the state in a result-oriented manner, the Cabinet has approved Four-Year Strategic Action Plan (4SAP)–2019 to 2023, to set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Key Performance Parameters for the eight departments of Labour Welfare, Technical Education and Training, Science, Technology & Environment, Medical Education & Research, Defence Services Welfare, Employment Generation & Training, Jails and Housing & Urban Development. Notably, the Department of Planning will monitor and review the implementation of Four Year Strategic Action Plan 2019-23 and Annual Action Plan 2019-20 on quarterly basis.
GRANTS OKAYED FOR BEBE NANKI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE (GIRLS)
The Cabinet accorded approval for transferring the Regional Campus of Guru Nanak Dev University, Fattu Dhinga, to the Bebe Nanki University College (Girls) as constituent college of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, as part of 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. The Cabinet also okayed provision of grant-in-aid by the state government to the tune of Rs. 1.25 crore during financial year 2019-20 (only for ten months) and subsequently, Rs. 1.50 crore per annum for subsequent years to the Guru Nanak Dev University for maintenance and salary expenditure of the college.
NOD TO AMEND STATE LOTTERIES RULES
The Council of Ministers has approved amendment to the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015 by inserting the definition of ‘Discount’ and ‘Face Value’. This amendment would help in starting new weekly lottery schemes in the state to enhance its revenue. Accordingly, in the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015, in rule, 2 after clause (i), the clauses of ‘discount’ and ‘face value’ would be inserted, wherein ‘discount’ means the amount of discount allowed for sale of tickets to a distributor, selling agents or other person, as may be determined by the State Government. ‘Face Value’ means the face value of the ticket as deemed for the purpose of computation of sale proceeds under these rules and printed on the reverse of the ticket and as arrived at after adjusting; Goods and Service Tax/other applicable taxes thereon, if any, and discount.
SPMU GETS EXTENSION UNDER POSHAN ABHIYAN
The Cabinet has granted extension for setting up of State Project Management Unit (SPMU) and engagement of staff at District/Block level under Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) and making it co-terminus with the duration of the scheme. The scheme, having 80:20 centre-state share, is run by the Social Security and Development of Women & Children to achieve improvement in nutritional status of children age 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Notably, the Cabinet in its meeting on July 30, 2019 had approved 184 posts under the scheme till March 31, 2020. The same has now been extended and made co-terminus with the validity of the scheme.
ANNUAL ADMIN REPORTS OF PLANNING DEPT CLEARED
The Cabinet also approved the Annual Administrative Reports of the Planning Department for the year 2016-17 and 2017-18.