Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh decided to hold the winter session of State Vidhan Sabha from 16 to 21 December, 2013 at Dharamshala.
The Cabinet gave approval for formation of Sub-Cadre for all tribal areas and various hard areas of the State. The hard areas of the State include Chuhar Ghati in Mandi district, Churah Block, Sub-Tehsil Kupvi, Shillai and Sangrah, 15/20, 18/20, 12/20 areas of Rampur Sub-Division including Kuki, Darkali, Munish and Kashapath panchayats, Dodra- Kwar Sub-Division, Jabal, Khabal, Pekha, Tangnu, Janglik, Dundi, Mehala, Sindasli, Dagoli, Rohal, Ranol, Kharshali, Gaonsari, Diswani, Dakgaon panchayats of Chauhara Block of Rohru Sub-Division in Shimla district, and Chhota and Bara Bhangal area of Kangra district have been included in the Sub-Cadre list.
The Cabinet approved to create and fill up 60 posts of Medical Officers in the Health Department. Cabinet also gave approval for procurement of citrus fruits in the State under Market Intervention Scheme during year 2013-14. As per the budget announcement of Chief Minister to enhance procurement rate by 50 paise, Kinnu/Malta/orange will now be procured at the rate of Rs. 6.50 (class-B), Rs. 6.00 (Class-C) per kilogram and Galgal at a rate of Rs. 5.00 per kilogram. The procurement Centers will be established as per the requirement in the State and procurement will be done by the HPMC/HIMFED through its staff only. The scheme will be effective from 20 November, 2013 to 15 February, 2014.
Cabinet has decided to invite the tenders for procurement of pulses etc., for six months period under the Subsidized Ration scheme. It also gave consent for providing an additional subsidy of Rs. 62 crore to carry out the scheme in the current financial year. It also approved to provide additional food grains to the BPL families of the State. They will be provided additional 11 kg Wheat per ration card at Rs. 5.25 per kg and 9 kg rice per ration card at Rs. 6.85 per kg.
The Cabinet also approved amendment in Himachal Panchayati Raj (Election) Rules, 1994. As per the amendment, the State Election Commission will be able to use data base of the Election Commission of India for the preparation of the draft electoral rolls for the elections under these rules. Another provision inserted in the amendment provides that every nomination paper shall be accompanied by No Dues Certificate issued by the concerned Panchayat in Form-18-A.
The Cabinet gave its nod for adopting of a Sustainable Tourism Development Policy, 2013 which has been framed for achieving sustainable tourism development based on global and national good practices, situation analysis, stakeholder engagements, rapid destination diagnostics and participatory planning exercises.
Cabinet also approved the Dharamshala (Kangra Valley) Sustainable Tourism Action Plan.
It approved to grant pay structure of Rs. 15600-39100 +5400 grade pay to the categories/posts of Administrative/ Establishment Officers/ Registrars or Assistant Registrars and other posts which have Superintendent Grade-I, Section Officer or Private Sectary as feeder posts.
The Cabinet gave its consent to amend the Himachal Pradesh Tax on Luxuries (in hotels and lodging houses) Act, 1979 by promulgating an ordinance to provide benefit of exemption of luxury tax for Home Stay Scheme for next five years.
It gave approval for issuing notification making it mandatory to file electronic returns for all dealers registered under the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005 and Central Sales Tax (H.P) Act, 1956 without having any turnover limit under the Rule 40A of the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax Act, 2005 and Rule 7(1-A) of the Central Sales Tax (H.P.) Rules, 1970 with effect from July, 2014. The Cabinet directed the department to ensure that intensive training is provided to the traders in this regard.
The decision was made to exempt the office of Advocate General HP to fill all vacant posts of Class-III category as one time exemption/measure without referring these vacancies to HP Subordinate Services Selection Board.
Cabinet has approved renaming of Government College Haripur in Manali in Kullu district as Jawahar Lal Nehru Government College Haripur. The Chief Minister had made an announcement regarding renaming the college during his visit to Kullu district.
It was decided to fix quota of HAS/departmental candidate in ratio of 60:40 respectively for filling up the posts of RTO’s and to carry out necessary amendments in the existing R&P rules accordingly in order to enable filling of vacant posts.
Cabinet gave approval for creation and filling up of seven posts of teaching faculty and six posts of technical staff in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Institute of Engineering & Technology, Pragatinagar, in Shimla district.
The decision was taken to re-designate 40 Panchayat Sahayaks as Panchayat Secretaries (contract) who have completed eight years of service as on 31-03-2013 with individual remuneration of Rs. 7810 per month subject to educational qualifications. It also approved to provide Rs. 9,12,000 as additionally in the shape of Grant-in-aid to the PRI’s for the purpose. It was also decided to recruit 200 Panchayat Sahayaks sanctioned earlier through the CEO. Zila Parishads. It was also decided to create and fill up 45 additional posts of Panchayat Sahayaks in the State.
Cabinet also gave consent to create one post each of Medical Officer and Pharmacist in Primary Health Centre, Thalot in Mandi district. It also approved creation of seven posts of Medical Officers and 15 posts of Staff Nurses in Civil Hospital, Karsog in Mandi district.
Cabinet gave its approval to increase grant-in-aid to H.P State Social Welfare Board and H.P Council for Child Welfare.
The Cabinet decided to locate the Engineer in Chief (Projects) I&PH at Shah Nahar. It was also decided to relocate the Superintending Engineer (I&PH) Shah Nahar to Una.
The cabinet gave its nod to purchase additional 10 ambulances for back up purpose under National Ambulance Service.
Approval was also given for creation of Department of Urology in Dr. RPGMC, Tanda in Kangra district along-with creation of one post each of Professor and Assistant Professor (Urology).
Cabinet also gave its approval for construction of H.P Judicial Academy campus at Ghandal in Shimla Tehsil. It gave approval to allow distinctive flag on the vehicle of Chairman, H.P Public Service Commission.
