Himachal Pradesh cabinet met here today under Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. During this meeting, cabinet decided to select about 7750 ASHA workers under the National Rural Health Mission in the Health and Family Welfare Department on honorarium basis. The ASHA workers would be given a monthly honorarium of Rs 850.
Cabinet decided to raise the income limit from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per annum for determining the creamy layer amongst the Other Backward Classes.
Cabinet also decided to adopt an action plan to contest the claim for release of arrears on account of 7.19 percent share from Bhakra Nangal and Beas Projects (BBMB) in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Cabinet decided to go for rebidding for allotment of 960 MW Jangi Thopan Powari Hydro Electric Project in Kinnaur district.
Cabinet decided to give one time permission to make admission to B.Tech courses in Private Universities and Engineering Institutions in the State for the academic session 2013-14 on the basis of qualifying examinations provided that the candidate secures 65 per cent marks in Physics, Maths and one of the subjects from Chemistry, Bio-Technology, Computer Science and Biology.
The Cabinet gave its approval for guidelines for selection of Priority Households in order to implement the National Food Security Ordinance 2013 with certain modifications.
The Cabinet decided to open Sub-Tehsil at Kotla in Kangra district. The new Sub-Tehsil would have seven Patwar circles i.e Kotla, Trilokpur, Bhali, Nadauli, Dol, Wahi Pathiyar and Kothi Wandi-1, having a total population of 26,828.
The Cabinet has decided to enhance the financial assistance (old age pension) under the social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 500 with effect from 1st April, 2013 to Ex-servicemen and their widows, thereby fulfilling the announcement made by the Chief Minister while presenting the Budget for the year 2013-14. The Cabinet also decided to enhance the ‘War Jagir’ amount from Rs 2000 to Rs 5000 w.e.f 1st April, 2013.
Cabinet accorded its approval to open Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Gram Panchayat Leda in district Mandi and also decided to create one post of Medical Officer, one post of Pharmacist/Nurse and one post of Class-IV for this PHC.
Cabinet decided to provide free travel facilities in Deluxe and Ordinary HRTC buses to Gallantry Award Winners within the State.
Cabinet gave its approval for engaging technical manpower on outsourcing basis through NIELIT(DOEACC SOCIETY) at State, District and Block level to implement the e-Panchayat Project in accordance with the guidelines issued by the GoI, MoPR. As many as 13 Assistant Programmers for all the 12 districts and 79 Computer Operators for 78 Blocks would be engaged for providing people centric computerized services through PRIs in the State.
Cabinet gave its approval for creating supernumerary posts of 139 Patrawis (86 for Shimla Settlement Division and 56 for Kangra Settlement Division) in Settlement Department.
Cabinet decided to provide one time Incentive/award of Rs 75,000 for all those students of the State who were selected and had taken admission for degree courses in any of the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) or All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and for any Post Graduate/Diploma course in any Indian Institute of Management (IIMs).
Cabinet allowed enhancing the State Government Block Guarantee in favour of National Handicapped Financial Corporation, Faridabad from Rs 8 crore to Rs 15 crore.
Cabinet decided to regularize the services of those Nepali Daily waged workers (Beldars) who have completed 8 years of regular service upto 31st March, 2004 and Engineer-in-Chief (PWD) had been made the competent authority to issue ‘Certificate of Eligibility’ to them.
Cabinet gave its nod for creation of Authority of Hydro Project Safety, Quality Control & Water Management in the Directorate of Energy, for developing an efficient and effective monitoring mechanism of Government of Himachal Pradesh in order to ensure safety, quality control, management of water flows, monitoring of the progress of allotment and subsequent execution of HEPs in private sector and for ensuring long term generation capacity and residual life of hydro projects, which are under implementation in all the five river basins in the State.
The Cabinet accorded its approval to enhance the Authorized Share Capital of the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) from Rs 1000 crore to Rs 1500 crore.
Cabinet gave its approval for change in Location/Elevation and Capacity Enhancement /decrease for 2 MW Sarwari-III and 5MW Soldan Small Hydro Electric Projects (SHEPs). It also decided to charge 3 per cent Additional Free Power Royalty from both SHEPs. While Rs 2 lakh would also be charged from Sarwari-III Project as Capacity Addition charges.
Cabinet approved to enhance the cadre strength of Block Development Officers (BDOs) from existing 85 to 113 in the Rural Development Department.
Cabinet approved creation of 11 posts of clerks and 3 posts of Senior Assistants on contract basis in Himachal Pradesh State Legal Service Authority for district level offices.
Cabinet gave its approval of creation of one post of Professor in Pediatrics Department of IGMC, Shimla.
Cabinet decided to fill up 90 posts of Veterinary Officers in Animal Husbandry Department through direct recruitment on contract basis. Out of which, 45 posts of Veterinary Officers would be filled in year 2013-14 and 45 posts of Veterinary Officers would be filled in the year 2014-15.
Cabinet gave its nod to fill up 33 vacant posts of Ayurvedic Pharmacists on contract basis in the Ayurveda Department, reserved for Ex-servicemen.
Cabinet also gave its approval to fill up 25 posts of different categories in the Town and Country Planning Department on contract basis through direct recruitment.
Cabinet gave its nod for absorbing 90 Panchayat Animal Husbandry Assistants against the vacant posts of Veterinary Pharmacists on contract basis in Animal Husbandry Department for strengthening veterinary services in the rural areas of the State.
The Cabinet gave its approval to start 2nd phase of Integrated Cooperative Development Projects (ICDPs) in Kangra, Kullu and Shimla districts by recommending it to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Cabinet gave its nod for cancelling the Letter of Intent (LOI) issued to Vocational Education Foundation for setting up of Medical College at Hamirpur as it failed to implement the LOI within one year and since than three years have elapsed. Cabinet also decided to serve show cause notices to all others, asking as to why their NOC should not be terminated as implementation period in respect to all of them was over.
Cabinet gave its approval for pre-mature release of 6 prisoners undergoing life imprisonment, as per recommendations of State Punishment Order Review Board.
Cabinet also reviewed the implementation status of Cabinet decisions taken by the present Government after assuming the office on 25th December, 2012.
