Dharamsala, December 27
The Himachal Cabinet today gave its approval for creation of 808 posts in the recently upgraded schools and for appointment of 50 veterinary doctors. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, also approved 9.09 per cent hike in the wages of daily-wage earners in the state.
Briefing newsmen after a four- hour-long Cabinet meeting here, Mr Dhumal said that 808 new posts of teachers and non-teaching staff had been approved to meet the requirements of middle, high and senior secondary schools which were upgraded recently. He said 50 veterinary doctors would also be recruited to meet the state’s requirement. A deputation of unemployed veterinary doctors had met the Chief Minister on Thursday. The Cabinet has asked the Finance and Education departments to create additional posts as per UGC norms in the Nerwa and Nurpur colleges which were recently taken over by the state government. The Cabinet also approved the upgradation of 21 posts to the senior assistant level, 12 posts of readers of the deputy commissioners to Superintendent Grade II level and 17 posts of steno typists to senior steno typist level in the Revenue and Judiciary departments. The fixed travelling allowance of Rs 25 per month payable to certain categories of employees of the Revenue and Judicial departments has also been enhanced to Rs 75 per month.
The Cabinet approved a hike of 9.09 per cent in the wages of unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled daily-wage earners which will become effective from August this year. Giving details, the Chief Minister said now an unskilled worker would get Rs 60 instead of Rs 55.50, a semi-skilled worker Rs 66 instead of Rs 60.50, a skilled worker Rs 76 instead of Rs 70 and a highly skilled worker’s wage would be Rs 97 instead of Rs 89.00. Daily-wage earners in the tribal areas would get additional 25 per cent wages while those engaged in tunnelling work would get 20 per cent extra.
The state Cabinet has also approved the introduction of a voluntary retirement scheme in the Himachal Road Transport Corporation and a sum of Rs 13 crore has been provided for VRS of 378 employees who had opted for the scheme. The HRTC has also been given a financial package of Rs 30 crore to meet its financial obligations.
The HP Agricultural and Rural Development Bank has been authorised to raise a loan of Rs 60 crore from Nabard and the state government today agreed to issue a guarantee for this loan on behalf of the bank. To clear the arrears of milk producers, Milkfed has been granted aid of
Rs 1.25 crore. The procurement price of angora wool has been enhanced from Rs 370 per kg to Rs 425 per kg. And the Wool Federation has been directed to buy the wool at new rates. At the same time, the Cabinet also approved reduction in the rates of tax charged on khair wood used as fuel. Earlier all khair wood was charged a flat rate of Rs 60 per quintal but now in the case of wood with a smaller diameter which is used as fuel wood the tax will be charged at the rate of Rs 10 per quintal.
Contrary to hopes, in the matter regarding extension of medical facilities to working journalists of the state, the Cabinet today appointed a three-member committee headed by the Principal Secretary (Finance) and comprising Principal Secretary (Health) and Principal Secretary (Information and Public Relations) as members which will recommend a scheme for the welfare of journalists. The Chief Minister said a welfare fund in which a sum of Rs 2 lakh has been given by the state government has already been set up.
The Cabinet also approved one-time relaxation on interest on overdue passengers tax due from private transporters. The suggestion of the PAC has been accepted and the matter will now go back to the PAC for a final decision.
The Cabinet also decided to scrap the upper limit of 12 per cent dividend for all co-operative societies working in the state. It agreed to waive the payment of sales tax by units registered with the Khadi and Village Board from March 1999 to July 2002 as many units had failed to do so due to lack of information. The tax would be charged from August onwards.
UNI adds:
The Himachal Pradesh Government on Friday approved a scheme for setting up of school cooperative societies in the state.
The societies will supply essential stationery and textbooks to school students at cheaper rates, Mr Dhumal said while briefing mediapersons after the meeting.
The Cabinet decided to remove the ceiling of 12 per cent dividend at present payable to members and share holders of the societies.
