Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presiding over Cabinet Meeting at Shimla on 11 August 2020.The State Cabinet in its meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave its approval to appoint 2322 workers in Jal Shakti Vibhag which include 718 Para Pump Operators, 162 Para Fitters and 1442 Multipurpose Workers under the Departmental Para Workers Policy to manage 486 drinking water and 31 irrigation schemes of the Department.The Cabinet decided to open new Division of Public Works Department at Jhandutta in Bilaspur district alongwith shifting three Sub Divisions of Public Works Department at Barathin, Jhandutta and Kalol of Ghumarwin Division under its control besides creating requisite posts for its smooth functioning.In order to ensure smooth operationalization of National Ambulance Services-108 in the State, it decided to make payment over and above the provisions of concession agreements as a special interim measure and stop gap arrangement to employees of GVK-EMRI by enhancing the take home salary of its employees.The Cabinet approved amendment in Section 3 of Himachal Pradesh War Awards Act, 1972 for enhancing the grant of War Jagirs from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 7000 annually for all the eligible persons.
It also gave approval to constitute Nagar Panchayat Shahpur in Kangra district alongwith creation of seven posts of different categories to manage this Nagar Panchayat.The Cabinet also gave its consent to upgrade Nagar Panchayat Sarkaghat in Mandi district to Municipal Council for better planning of town.The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown thereafter has resulted in cumulative losses of about Rs. 15.77 crore to floriculturists of the State during the month of March to May, 2020 due to non-transportation of flowers. Now, in order to provide succour to floriculturists, the Cabinet approved the guidelines for providing financial assistance/relief amount worth Rs. four crore to the affected floriculturists. It gave its ex-post facto relaxation in condition number 2.14 Clause 3 of Chapter II of Toll Policy 2020-21 for allowing all those persons to participate in the auction-cum tender process of allotment of Toll leases who have cleared their pending dues of Toll lease for the year 2019-20 only.It gave also its approval to fill up one post of Lecturer (English) in Government Polytechnic College, Sundernagar in Mandi district and one post of Lecturer (Modern Office Practice) in Government Polytechnic College, Rohru in Shimla district on contract basis.