Punjab Cabinet Decisions 26 August

*Cabinet – 2*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB CABINET GIVES NOD TO AMEND RULES OF GRAM SEWAKS FOR MAKING GRADUATION BASIC QUALIFICATION

DECIDES TO GIVE 2-YEAR EXTENSION TO VET HOSPITAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Chandigarh, August 26:
To enhance the efficiencies of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday decided to raise the minimum qualification for Gram Sewaks from Matric to Graduation.

It has okayed amendment to the Rural Development and Panchayats Department (Class-III) Service Rules, 1988, according to an official spokesperson.

A decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh held here this afternoon through video conferencing.

Following the Cabinet’s nod, the “Punjab Department of Rural Development and Panchayats (Class-III) Service (First Amendment) Rules, 2021” will notify amendment to the rules, thus paving the way for fresh recruitment of 792 Gram Sewaks, to be conducted by the SSS Board.

Notably, the duties of Panchayat Secretary and Gram Sewaks in the Rural Development and Panchayats Department are of similar nature but the minimum educational qualification in direct recruitment of Panchayat Secretary is Graduation whereas in case of Gram Sewaks, the educational qualification has so far been Matriculation.

VET HOSPITAL SERVICE PROVIDERS GET CONTINUATION

Meanwhile, in a bid to provide efficient animal health services in the 582 veterinary hospitals across the state, the Cabinet okayed continuation of the services of Service Providers (497 Veterinary Pharmacists and 498 Class-IV/Safai Sewaks), already working on contract basis, as a stop-gap arrangement for a period of two years, i.e. from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.

This decision has been taken to ensure smooth functioning of the veterinary hospital, besides enabling dairy farmers to avail the best veterinary services for their livestock.

The state government has already transferred 582 Civil Veterinary Hospitals back to the Animal Husbandry Department, including the 582 sanctioned posts of Rural Veterinary Officers, from Rural Development & Panchayat Department, to provide efficient animal health services to livestock owners.

APPROVES AMENDMENT FOR BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN DBEES AND DPMUS

To bring parity and ensure coordination in the functioning of District Bureau of Employment Enterprises (DBEEs) and District Program Management Units (DPMUs), the Cabinet gave approval to amend notification No. 9/33/2019-1ET/1530612/1 dated July 24, 2019 to replace the words “Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) and ADC (D)’ with Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-CEO DBEE”.

As per a Cabinet decision of June 6, 2019, Punjab Skill Development Mission was brought under the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, which has also set up DBEEs in all districts where Additional Deputy Commissioners are CEOs (Chief Executive Officer) of these DBEEs. DBEEs and DPMU of Punjab Skill Development Mission are working in districts under the direct control of the ADCs who act as nodal officers for the same. However, in many districts ADC (Development) is the nodal officer for skill programmes and ADC (General) is the CEO of DBEE. This dual structure leads to lack of coordination amongst the skill training and employment generation wings of the department. Therefore, for better coordination between DBEEs and DPMU at district level, the Cabinet took this decision to amend the said notification.

APPROVES ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

The Punjab Cabinet also approved Annual Administrative Reports of the Employment Generation & Training Department for the years 2018-19, 2019-20, and of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department for four years viz. 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

 

*Cabinet – 1*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB TO LAUNCH ‘MERA KAAM MERA MAAN’ SCHEME TO HELP UNEMPLOYED YOUTH ENHANCE SKILLS & EMPLOYABILITY

SCHEME TO START WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS & THEIR WARDS FROM CURRENT FISCAL, BENEFICIARIES TO GET RS 2500/MONTH DURING TRAINING PLUS 12 MONTHS

Chandigarh, August 26: The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday gave the go-ahead to an innovative new scheme – ‘Mera Kaam Mera Maan (MKMM), to facilitate the unemployed youth of the youth in honing their skills and enhancing their employability in their chosen field through free short-term skill training.

The Cabinet decided to roll out the scheme from the current fiscal on a pilot basis for construction workers and their wards. A target of 30000 beneficiaries has been proposed, at a cost of Rs.90 crore, to be covered under this pilot project.

The Cabinet also authorized the Chief Minister to extend the scheme to other sections of the society as and when appropriate, besides empowering the Employment Generation, Skill Development & Training Minister to make any amendments in the scheme as required from time to time for its successful implementation.

According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, the scheme provides employment assistance allowance of Rs.2500 per month for a period of 12 months from the start of the training course under the short-term skill training programmes in the Punjab Skill Development Mission training centers. The said allowance shall be given during the training period, and after successfully completing the training during the pre-placement and post-placement period of 12 months from the date of the start of programme.

Under MKMM scheme, the eligible construction workers/ward of construction worker registered with Construction Workers Welfare Board, Department of Labour, should contact the District Bureau of Employment and Enterprise of the concerned district to apply for the benefit.

Notably, the Captain Amarinder Singh government’s flagship programme ‘Ghar Ghar Rozgar te Karobar Mission’ has so far facilitated gainful employment to approximately 17.61 lakh youth since April 1, 2017, including 7.02 lakh in private sector, 9.97 lakh self employment ventures besides 62,743 government jobs.

 

*Cabinet – 3*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB CABINET PAVES WAY FOR GOVT JOBS TO OUTSTANDING SPORTPERSONS

Chandigarh, August 26:
Fulfilling the commitment made by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to the state’s sportspersons who brought laurels in the recent Tokyo Olympics, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday decided on amendment to rules to pave the way for a special employment dispensation for outstanding sportspersons.

Sportspersons displaying excellence in Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as World Cup tournaments, will be recruited in various departments under the Sports quota, following amendment to Rule 3 of Punjab Recruitment of Sportsmen Rules, 1988, through insertion of Rule 3A.

According to an official spokesperson, with the incorporation of new rule, preference would be given to the medal winners of Olympic Games and World Cup/Championships (4-yearly) in International sports events (viz. FIFA World Cup Football, IAAF World Cup in Athletics, FIBA Basketball World Cup, Volleyball World Cup and Hockey World Cup), as also to metalists of both Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, for appointment against State Civil Services and posts connected with the affairs of the State.

The Chief Minister has been authorized by the Cabinet to make any changes in the policy to accommodate sportspersons from more categories.

The decision is also aimed at motivating youth to take up sports as a career.

 

*Cabinet – 4*

PUNJAB CABINET DECIDES ON SPECIAL ASSEMBLY SESSION ON SEP 3 TO MARK 400TH PRAKASH PURB OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI

Chandigarh, August 26: The Council of Ministers on Thursday decided to summon a Special Session of the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha for one day, on September 3, 2021, for commemoration of the historic 400th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, approved recommending to the Governor summoning of the 15th session of the House under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution of India.

According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, the session would start with obituary references at 10 am, followed by celebration of THE 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji at 11 am.

The Chief Minister said he will invite Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, Punjab Governor, VP Badnore, and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as guests at the special session.

 

*Cabinet – 5*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB PERMITS INDUSTRY TO USE PADDY STRAW AS FUEL IN BOILERS TO CLAIM INCENTIVES

FIRST 50 INDUSTRIES TO GET TOTAL FISCAL INCENTIVE OF RS. 25 CR ON 1ST COME 1ST SERVE BASIS

Chandigarh, August 26: In a major step to check stubble burning during the paddy season, Punjab has decided to permit certain categories of industries to install paddy straw fired boilers to claim fiscal incentives.

The industries which can get this benefit Include Sugar mills, Pulp and Paper mills and any industry having boiler installation with steam generating capacity more than 25 TPH.

New and existing units of distilleries/breweries proposing replacement of old boilers or expansion with installation of new boilers will also have to mandatorily use paddy straw as fuel in boilers, it was decided today by the cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

The Cabinet also decided to provide cumulative fiscal incentives of Rs. 25 crore to the first 50 existing industries on ‘first come first serve’ basis for using paddy straw as fuel in boilers.

It has also okayed for non-fiscal incentives to industries in terms of availability of Panchayat land for storage of paddy straw with lease agreement upto 33 years with rate of increase in lease @6% per annum. Apart from this, balers would be made available on priority in areas where paddy straw is used as fuel in boilers.

The move would help in tackling the menace of stubble burning during harvesting of Kharif crops, thus also conserving the fertility of soil and saving the beneficial micro-organisms.

The decision assumes significant in view of the challenge of managing crop residue. Post harvesting, where the wheat straw is used as fodder for the livestock, paddy straw in the fields is set on fire by the farmers to quickly clear their fields for next crop. Due to field fire incidents during the month of October-November, the problem of air pollution is widely prevalent in and around the rural area, causing major major health effects. Due to the climatic conditions, the air quality in the NCR region also deteriorates, with contribution from various local sources such as domestic, vehicular, industrial and municipal solid waste dump fires. However, farm fires in the neighboring states is also blamed for air pollution in the NCR. Paddy is cultivated in 31.49 lakh hectare area (2020) in Punjab, resulting in the generation of about 20 million tons of paddy straw.

This is the latest in the series of measures taken by the Punjab Government to tackle stubble burning, including provision of crop residue management (CRM) machines to the Panchayats, co-operatives and individual farmers for In-Situ crop residue management, use of paddy straw as energy resource for Bio-Mass based plants, monitoring and enforcement stubble burning, as well as awareness campaign in the farming community.

It has been felt that there is a need to further encourage use of paddy straw as fuel in industries for promoting Ex-Situ management option. Some industries in the State have been able to successfully utilize paddy straw for their industrial operations into their boilers. They have either made substantial modifications in furnaces or set up new paddy straw fired boilers. These units have pioneered Ex-situ management of paddy straw by developing strong supply chain mechanism for collection of paddy straw directly from farmers by involving suppliers (initially by financing bailing machine to develop supply chain mechanism) and providing storage of straw bales for its use round the year.

 

*Cabinet – 6*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB CABINET APPROVES RS. 62.46 CR WAIVER FOR PSCFC AND BACKFINCO LOANEES

14853 SC, HANDICAPPED BC, EWS & MINORITY CATEGORY LOANEES TO BENEFIT

Chandigarh, August 26: The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved waiver of loans,
upto Rs.50,000 each, of the loaness of the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation (PSCFC) and Punjab Backward Classes Land Development and Finance Corporation (BACKFINCO).

The pro-poor initiative will benefit loanees belonging to Scheduled Castes, Handicapped Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections and Minorities, an official spokesperson said after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

During the meeting, Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi appreciated the decision, and also the recent loan waiver of landless farmers and farm labourers.

The total amount to be waived stands at Rs. 62.46 crore, applicable to loans disbursed up to March 31, 2021, with waiver amount to be calculated on June 30, 2021. This translates into Rs 41.48 crore of PSCFC loans and Rs 20.98 crore of BACKFINCO loans.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that under the scheme, a total of 14853 loanees (10151 of PSCFC and 4702 of the BACKFINCO) will benefit.

The waived off amount would be borne by the State Government and released to both the corporations as Grant-in-Aid.

Notably, the PSCFC advances loans to poor Scheduled Castes and handicapped persons for self-employment at nominal rate of interest, and BACKFINCO advances loans to poor persons belonging to Backward Classes, Minorities and Economically Weaker Sections of the society for self-employment at nominal rates of interest. The recovery rate of loans advanced by the PSCFC is about 77 percent, while the recovery of BACKFINCO is about 65 percent. Despite the best possible efforts, the recovery rate could not be improved further due to various reasons, such as failure of business, death of the loanee, chronic illness of the loanee or any other family member, as well as natural calamities. Besides, the spread of Covid-19 also affected the incomes of the loanees.

 

*Cabinet – 7*

CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE, PUNJAB

PUNJAB CABINET GIVES EX-POST FACTO APPROVAL FOR JOBS TO 104 LEGAL HEIRS OF DECEASED AGITATING FARMERS/FARM LABOURERS

CM ORDERS FURTHER RELAXATIONS AS NEEDED TO ENSURE NEXT OF KIN OF OTHER DECEASED PROTESTORS ALSO GET JOBS

Chandigarh, August 26:
In a significant decision, the Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Cabinet on Thursday gave ex-post facto approval for jobs to 104 legal heirs of farmers/farm labourers who have died during the ongoing agitation against the Centre’s black Farm Laws, with the Chief Minister directing the concerned departments to give any further relaxations needed to ensure that the next of kin of all such deceased protestors are provided employment.

The Chief Minister made it clear that he wanted the family members of all Punjab farmers sacrificing their lives in the stir against the draconian laws to be accommodated in government jobs.

The Cabinet earlier authorized the Chief Minister to make any further changes in rules, while approving relaxations to candidates who were not covered under the Punjab government policy dated November 21, 2002, relating to compassionate appointments. The said policy is applicable to Government employees and those persons who have died fighting for the security of the nation. The cases of the legal heirs of farmers/farm labourers who have died during the farmers’ agitation against the Farm Laws were not covered by the policy, necessitating approval/relaxation.

With the cabinet decision, the deceased farmers’/labourers’ mother, father, married brother, married sister, married daughter, daughter-in-law, grandson, granddaughter, Next of Kin (NoK) etc., as recommended by the concerned DC, would be eligible for employment as a one-time measure.

Notably, a Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Personnel, on the orders of Chief Minister, to consider the issue. Members of the committee included Secretary/Special Secretary Revenue, Secretary/Additional Secretary/Special Secretary Agriculture and Special Secretary or Head of the concerned department in which appointment is to be made against the vacancies.

The Committee had, on July 26, 2021, considered the cases of 104 candidates and recommended employment to the eligible candidates. In this regard, a letter has been issued by Revenue Department.

It may be recalled that, in the midst of lockdown due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the three laws/ordinances were passed by the Government of India on June 5, 2020, which caused a huge outcry among the farmers/farm labourers across the state. Organized protests/agitations by farmers/farm labourers first started in Punjab and then the agitation assumed a nation-wide anger. A large number of small and marginal farmers took part in this agitation. The farmers are still agitating on the borders of Delhi.

A number of farmers/farm workers have lost their lives while protesting in the cold and inclement weather conditions on roads and under the open sky. Taking note of the problems/hardships being faced by the farmers/farm workers, the Government of Punjab has already provided ex-gratia/financial aid of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the farmers/farm workers who have died during the agitation.