The Punjab Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave approval for filling up 500 vacant posts of group C and D in Milkfed and its affiliated milk unions through direct recruitment. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat- I.
Divulging the details a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the move is aimed at overcoming the shortage of staff for streamlining the functioning of Milkfed and its affiliated milk unions. This will benefit the milk producers and farmers to ensure a lucrative milk market through value addition and efficient marketing of produce.
Likewise, it will facilitate the consumers by further improving the quality of milk and milk products produced by the Milkfed.
GREEN SIGNAL FOR SCHEME TO ENSURE UPKEEP OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
In order to ensure proper maintenance of the government schools across the state, the Cabinet also gave green signal for implementation of a state scheme to ensure upkeep of Government Schools. Under this scheme requisite funds will be provided by the Government of Punjab for the Sanitation, Cleanliness, Security and smooth administration of the School campuses.
This will help the school administration to run the schools in a smooth and hassle free manner to impart quality education to students.
DECIDES TO GIVE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX REBATE ON PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES BY OWNERS OF SCRAPPED VEHICLE
In consonance to the Scrapping Policy introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, regarding registration of new vehicles, the Punjab Cabinet also decided to give Motor Vehicle Tax rebate of up to 15% to the Transport Vehicle Owners and 25% to Non-Transport Vehicle Owners in Motor Vehicle Tax under Section 13(3) of the Punjab Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1924.
As per this environment friendly decision, the owners of transport vehicles can take advantage of this scheme up to 8 years from the registration of their vehicle and owners of non-transport vehicles up to 15 years from the registration of their vehicle.
When the vehicle is scrapped by the vehicle owner, the vehicle will be purchased by the scrapper who will issue a "Certificate of Deposit" to the vehicle owner, which will be deposited with the concerned Licensing Authority and the owner of the vehicle will get the exemption on Motor tax.
NOD TO AMEND EDUCATION QUALIFICATION FOR DIRECT RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION TO POST OF SISTER TUTOR
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also gave its nod to amend the education qualification for direct recruitment and promotion to post of Sister Tutor in Punjab Health and Family Welfare Technical (Group B) Service Rules, 2018 of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
As per the decision M.Sc (Nursing) will be education qualification for the direct recruitment to the post of Sister Tutor. Likewise, for promotion as Sister Tutor minimum ten years experience as Staff Nurse (Group C) along with educational Qualification of B.Sc (Nursing) will be mandatory.
APPROVES POLICY FOR DISBURSEMENT OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS BY CM AND CABINET MINISTERS
The Punjab Cabinet also approved the Policy for Disbursement of Discretionary Grants by Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers for creation and repair of existing basic infrastructure, environment improvement and fulfilling the basic needs of the poor residing in Punjab.
As per the decision, the Chief Minister will have Rs. 5.00 Crore in his discretionary quota whereas Cabinet Ministers will have Rs 1.50 Crore each in their discretionary quota during a financial year.
DIRECTORATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO REPLACE DPI (COLLEGES)
To ensure better coordination among Higher Education Institutions in the state and effective implementation of the Higher Education policies of the state and Government of India, the Cabinet also decided to change the name of Directorate of Public Instructions (Colleges), Punjab to Directorate of Higher Education, Punjab.
Accordingly the nomenclature to the post of Director Public Instructions (Colleges) will also change to Director Higher Education, Punjab. This decision will also ensure better coordination between State Higher Education Department, Colleges, Universities and Centrally Sponsored Agencies.
Pertinently, the Directorate of Public Instructions (Colleges) was established originally in 1856 in the pre-partition Punjab was functioning from Lahore. After the partition and division of Punjab in 1966, it started functioning from Chandigarh.
NOD TO AMEND CHILDREN TO FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION RULES, 2011
To further streamline the education system, the Cabinet also decided to amend sub-rule 4 of Rule 13 of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 with inclusion of two other members in School Management Committees. One member shall be a social worker residing in vicinity of respective school and one member shall be educationist as special invitees out of which means that a person who have worked in the education sector in a University, College, School or any other educational institution on a teaching post or any other retired government employee from Group-A Service.
However, such members shall not have any right to vote and shall not be eligible to be elected as a Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of the School Management Committee.
GIVES GREEN SIGNAL TO AMEND VARIOUS RULES IN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
The Cabinet also gave green signal to amend the Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection General Cadre) Group 'A' Service Rules, 2018, Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection Border Area Group 'A' Service Rules, 2018, Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection General Cadre) Group 'B' Service Rules, 2018 and Punjab Educational Service (School and Inspection Border Area Group'B' Service Rules, 2018 with the change of qualification for the direct recruitment of post of Principal & Headmasters to enable the Agriculture Masters to apply for the direct recruitment of Principals and Headmasters of the Department of School Education, Punjab.
GIVES NOD FOR FILLING UP 173 VACANT POSTS OF PEONS AND WATCHMEN IN SECRETARIAT
In view of the acute shortage of Peons and Chowkidars in Punjab Civil Secretariat (Secretariat Administration), the Cabinet also gave nod for filling up 150 vacant posts of Peons in Punjab Civil Secretariat and 23 vacant posts of Chowkidars by way of transfer, for the smooth functioning of Punjab Civil Secretariat.
APPROVES TO DISSOLVE DRDAS AFTER ABSORPTION OF 44 EMPLOYEES ON THE VACANT POSTS
The Cabinet also gave approval to dissolve District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) after absorption of 44 employees on the vacant posts lying in Zila Parishads/Panchayat Samitis by creating a dying cadre.
NOD TO ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
The Cabinet also approved Annual Administrative Reports of Social Security, Women & Child Development Department and Water Resources Department for the year 2021-2022 and 2020-21 respectively. The Cabinet also cleared Annual Administrative Reports of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Department for the year 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.