The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has given approval to sign Memorandum of Understanding with Government of India for establishing two Medical Colleges at Nahan and Chamba with an annual intake of 100 MBBS seats per college per year, which would be attached with district hospitals of concerned district. The total cost for establishment of these two colleges would be Rs. 378 crore
The Cabinet, presided by the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, also gave its approval to sanction pension to about 12,000 pending applicants under Social Security Pension Scheme, enhancing the Social Security Pension from Rs. 500 to Rs. 550 per month, providing Rs. 1000 pension per month to the persons above 80 years of age without any income limit condition and to increase the pension being given to physically challenged persons from Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 per month. All these pensions would be applicable from 1st April, 2014.
The Cabinet gave its nod to provide Scholarships to the physically challenged students as per budget announcement of the Chief Minister. The Scholarship would be awarded to regular disabled students of schools, colleges and universities without considering their family income. This will cover students from 1st standard upto post graduate courses including diploma/vocational/technical/ professional courses being run through Government institutions. It also decided to provide Rs. 8000 Marriage Grant to the persons with 40 to 69 per cent disability and Rs. 40,000 Marriage Grant to the persons with 70 to 100 per cent disability.
The Cabinet decided to engage 500 Jal Rakshaks (Water Guards) for 543 Rural Water Supply Schemes for distribution of water from storage tank or sector storage tank or headwork to pumping stations and pumping stations to main storage tank during the financial year 2014-15.
The Cabinet approved to recruit 150 clerks in Himachal Pradesh State Secretariat.
It gave its assent to convert the services of Staff Nurses appointed on contract basis through Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) after completion of 3 years of the services to State Government Contract in the Department of Ayurveda on the analogy of Health Department. It decided to allot the work of Rajput Kalyan Board and Brahmin Kalyan Board to General Administration Department (GAD) of H.P. Secretariat.
The Cabinet gave its approval for inviting objections and suggestions to the Draft Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee, Himachal Pradesh (Transparency and Grievance Redressal) Amendment Rules, 2014 and the Draft Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Himachal Pradesh (Payment of Unemployment Allowance) Rules, 2014.
It gave approval to recruit Experts/Development Professional and Area Coordinators for implementation of National Rural Livelihood Mission (Aajeevika) in Himachal Pradesh as per Procurement Manual issued by GoI for National Rural Livelihood Mission. The Community Coordinators would be recruited through an outsourcing agency or as per Procurement Manual issued by GoI under the Programme.
The Cabinet decided to recruit four Excise & Taxation Officers through direct recruitment. It also decided to recruit 26 posts of Excise & Taxation Inspectors through direct recruitment to be recruited over two years.
The Cabinet decided to make amendments relating to rate of tax on Industrial Inputs and exemption from entry tax to the newspapers newsprint, printing material, plates and machinery and ink used for printing of newspapers.
The Cabinet also gave its nod for simplification of procedures under Hydro Power Policy for expeditious harnessing of small hydro power potential in the State. It decided to allot Kurched (3.00MW) Small Hydro Electric Project in Lahaul & Spiti to M/S Miyar Hydro Electric Power Company Ltd. for meeting construction power requirement for Miyar 120 MW HEP in Lahaul & Spiti district. The Cabinet gave its approval for resettlement and rehabilitation scheme of Tidong-I Hydro Electric Project. It decided to restore allotment of Dogri (2.50 MW) SHEP in district Shimla on certain conditions.
It decided to reduce Electricity Duty and additional concessions on duty for new industries units coming up in the State w.e.f. 1st April, 2014.
The Cabinet approved the Solar Power Policy for setting up of Solar Photovoltaic Projects in Himachal Pradesh.
The Cabinet decided to open new Ayurveda Health Centre at village and Gram Panchatyat Nagaan Tehsil Kotkhai in district Shimla and creation of one post of Ayurveda Medical Officer on contract basis.
It gave approval to set up three new Police Chowkies at Kotli under Mandi Police Station, Nihri under Police Station Karsog and Kamand under Police Station Padhar in Mandi district. It gave approval to purchase ten new Bajaj Pulsar motor cycles for Superintendent of Police, Shimla.
The Cabinet gave its nod to upgrade PHC Bhathree to Community Health Centre in district Chamba, upgradation of Health Sub Centre Dharogra to Primary Health Centre in district Shimla and opening of Primary Health Centre Khola-Nal (Bali Chowki) in district Mandi.
The Cabinet approved the Policy to regularize the designated Contract Panchayat Secretaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions as per policy of State Government. It also gave its approval to designate the Panchayat Sahayaks of Panchayati Raj Institutions as Contract Panchayat Secretaries after completing six years of satisfactory service and also to increase the monthly honorarium of Panchayat Sahayaks to Rs. 7000 from Rs. 5910.
The Cabinet approved the payment of ex-gratia to all employees of the Himachal Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation @ 8.33 per cent of Pay with the maximum ceiling of Rs. 15000 per employee of the Corporation for the financial year 2012-13.
It decided to create and fill up posts of Trade Instructor, Engineering Drawing Instructor, Math’s Instructor and Employability Skill Instructor on contract basis and Workshop Attendant from surplus pool at ITI Baroh in district Kangra.
