Arvind Malethia CHANDIGARH DECEMBER 03(BB):The Punjab Cabinet today decided to extend the benefit of 100 units per month of free electricity to 15 lakh families instead of the present 10 lakh families.
A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal this evening.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Punjab government said that the Cabinet also decided to regularize the unauthorized colonies in the state. Local Government Minister Mr. Tikshan Sud had been authorized to work out the details for the regularization of the unauthorized colonies within a stipulated time frame.In a major decision, the government also gave in principle approval to regularize the services of the part time lecturers working in the Govt. Colleges. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved to grant lump sum salary including Basic Pay, Grade Pay and DA to the part time lecturer's w.e.f December 1, 2011. The services of these lecturers shall be regularized soon subject to the legal advice.
In a significant decision, the Cabinet also decided to raise the pension of Army personnel affected by the events of 1984( Dharmi Faujis) from Rs.2500 to Rs.5000 per month. The Cabinet also raised the monthly subsistence allowance of the terrorists/riot victims from Rs.2500 to Rs.5000 w.e.f. from January 1, 2012. This decision would benefit 6378 persons and involve financial implication of Rs.19.13 crore.
The Cabinet also approved various recommendations of the Cabinet Sub Committee on the employees� demands comprising Mr. Tikshan Sud, Dr. Upinderjit Kaur and Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon (all Cabinet Ministers) and decided to implement the Assured Career Progression (ACP) of 4/9/14 scheme of November 3, 2006 with effect from May 28, 2009 instead of December 1, 2011 and the payment of arrears due to employees under this scheme would also be made. Therefore, the notification issued by the state government on July 22, 2011 regarding the revised new scheme of ACP stand rescinded. Similarly, the ACP scheme of 8/16/24/32 issued on September 25, 1998 and Dynamic ACP scheme of April 17, 2000 had been restored with effect from May 28, 2009.
The Cabinet also approved to grant an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lac in lump-sum in case of accidental or homicidal death on the duty irrespective of the basic pay or group of employees. In case an employee suffered complete permanent disability due to accident on duty then he would be entitled for full ex-gratia amount but in case of partial permanent disability he would be entitled for ex-gratia grant proportionately as per prescribed the percentage of his disability.
The Cabinet also approved to grant conveyance allowance of Rs. 300 per month to the Group `D� employees. This allowance would be inclusive of the local Travelling Allowance-cum-Miscellaneous allowance already admissible to Group `D� employees and would be admissible from December 1, 2011.
The Cabinet also decided to grant the pay scales to the lecturers working in the government aided polytechnic institutions at par with their counterparts in the Government polytechnics. The revised pay scales would be given to the concerned employees w.e.f. 1.1.2006 in view of the recommendations of 5th Punjab Pay Commission and the revised pay would be given to them in cash from December 1, 2011. A decision to pay the outstanding arrears in installments would be taken later on in consultation with Finance Department. The concerned management shall have to contribute their 5% share for this purpose.
The Cabinet also decided to grant benefit of 4/9/14 under dynamic ACP scheme to the PCS (Executive Branch) from the actual date of completing their service after 4, 9 and 14 years instead of 1st January of the following year. This decision would be implemented from December 1, 2011.
The Cabinet also decided to enhance the maximum pay of guest faculty teachers of the government colleges from Rs.7000 to Rs.10000 per month w.e.f. 1.12.2011 with annual increase at the rate of 10%.
The Cabinet also revised the pay scales of PCS (Executive Branch) allied services viz. Excise & Taxation Officers, Tehsildars, Block Development & Panchayat officers, Food Supplies Officers, Assistant Registrar Cooperative Societies, Labour-cum-Conciliation Officer, Employment Generation & Training Officer with a minimum grade pay of Rs.5000. The scale of the promotional post of these services have also been substantially enhanced. The grade pay of district posts has been raised to Rs.5400 in the pay band IV. Likewise, the grade pay of Deputy Director has been revised to Rs.6600 i.e. of Joint Director to Rs.7800 and the Additional Director Rs.8400.
The pay scales of the employees of the Ministerial category has been given quantum jump as the Clerk, Junior Assistant, Senior Assistant/Junior Auditor/Statistical Assistant, Superintendent Grade-2/Senior Auditor (non SAS) had been given higher grade pay of Rs.3200, Rs.3600, Rs.4400 and Rs.4800 respectively in the pay band of Rs.10300-34800. The grade pay of Superintendent Grade I would be Rs.5400 in the pay band of Rs.15600-39100. The Steno Typist would now get 10300-34800+3200 (including one increment on initial pay). The grade pay of Junior Scale Stenographer, Senior Scale Stenographer and Personal Assistant has been enhanced to Rs.3600, Rs.4400 and Rs.4800 respectively in the pay band of Rs.10300-34800. The grade pay of Private Secretary would be now Rs.5400 in the pay band of Rs.15600-39100. The grade pay of telephone operator and driver has also been enhanced to Rs.2400 respectively in the pay band of Rs.5910-20200. Similarly the pay scales of the Police personnel have also been enhanced by giving parity to Constable, Head Constable and Assistant Sub Inspector with Clerk, Junior Assistant and Senior Assistant respectively. The pay scales of Sub Inspectors and Inspectors have been revised to Rs.4600 and Rs.4800 respectively in the pay band III.
The Cabinet also approved the enhanced pay scales for group �D� employees with minimum Basic Pay of Rs.6950. The minimum grade pay is now Rs.1650 for the group �D� employees instead of Rs.1300. A new higher pay scale has been devised for group �D� employees for the promotional post with a grade pay of Rs.1800. However, the special allowance earlier given to the certain categories of the Punjab government employees in lieu of higher pay scales w.e.f. June 1, 2011 shall stand withdrawn from December 1, 2011, but the conveyance allowance granted to group �D� employees, police personnel and ministerial employees shall continue to be paid.
The pay scales of the officers of the departments of the Languages, Information & Public Relations, State Accounts Service, District Treasury Officers and the Treasury Officers, District Welfare Officers and District Social Security officers, Multi-Purpose Health Supervisors (Males and Females) have also been substantially hiked.
The Cabinet also gave nod to the enhancement of fixed emoluments of Rs.10000 per month to 7654 teachers with provision for annual increment at the rate of 10%. Likewise, the other categories would also be given suitable increase in their fixed emoluments. The Cabinet also gave approval to grant exemption from type test to those employees appointed on compassionate grounds who successfully undergone computer training of the prescribed training of 3 months with the department of Information Technology.
The Cabinet also appealed to the employees especially the ministerial staff to shun the path of agitation as most of their demands have not only been accepted but implemented by the state government in letter and spirit. The Cabinet also urged the employees to develop work culture and discharge their duties with utmost, sincerity, honesty, dedication and commitment in the larger public interest.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of 19 new posts for the State Right to Service Commission established under Right to Service Act, 2011 to ensure its smooth functioning besides efficient delivery of services to the general public.
The Cabinet gave approval to slash the rate of VAT from 12.5 to 5% on the supply of bomb shells and other weapons & ammunitions to the Ordinance factory.
The Cabinet also gave approval to amend the Punjab Civil Service (Revised Pay) Rules, 1988 to relax the condition of the minimum period of experience from 12 to 5 years of service as Junior Draftsman for the promotion as draftsman.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of 16 different posts each in the District Statistical Office for the newly created Pathankot and Fazilka districts.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for the terms and conditions of the appointment of Vice Chairman of Punjab State Planning Board Mr. Rajinder Gupta in the rank of Cabinet Minister.
The Cabinet approved the transfer the land of existing Jalalabad mandi measuring 55 acre, 5 kanal and 7 marla to the Punjab Mandi Board to ensure its proper management. Likewise, the Cabinet also approved to transfer 2 acres of land out of the Government Potato and Vegetables Seed Farm, Sohal in district Gurdaspur to PUNSEED at the collector rate.
The Cabinet also gave approval to recruit 111 posts of group �A�, 19 of �B�, 432 of �C� and 369 of �D� in the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Soil Conservation, out of the preview of Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC)/Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board. These posts would now be filled through Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana.
The Cabinet also approved to entrust the task of recruitment of group �A� posts to the Defence Service Welfare department after taking these posts out of the preview of PPSC. Apart from this, the Cabinet also gave nod to appoint the retired District Welfare Officers on the pattern of retired PCS Officers on the contract basis. These contractual district welfare officers would be allowed to work till the age of 62 years.
To ensure more coverage of rural area under the emergency response services in the state, the Cabinet also approved to increase the number of existing ambulances under the scheme from 90 to 240 besides giving approval for additional budget of Rs.59.69 crore for 2011-12.
The Cabinet also approved to enhance the one time annuity and grant cash allowance in lieu of land allotment to the Gallantry Awardees of the state. Now annuity has been enhanced from Rs. 25 lac to Rs. 30 lac for Paramvir Chakar, Rs. 15 lac to Rs. 20 lac for Mahanvir Chakar, Rs. 10 lac to Rs. 15 lac for Vir Chakar, Rs. 25 lac to Rs. 30 lac for Ashok Chakar, Rs. 15 lac to Rs. 20 lac for Kirti Chakar, Rs. 10 lac to Rs. 15 lac for Shaurya Chakar, Rs. 5 lac to Rs. 7 lac for Sena Medal (Only Gallantry) and Rs. 2.5 lac to Rs. 5 lac for Mention-In-Despach. Likewise, the onetime award money for the Distinguish Award winners has also been enhanced. The Cabinet also approved 10% hike in existing monthly allowances, besides full allowance payment to the Widows of the Gallantry Awardees.
The Cabinet gave approval to abolish the 'The Punjab Affiliated Colleges Pension and Contributory Provident Fund Rules-2002' and to re-introduce the old Contributory Pension Fund Scheme besides also authorized the Chief Minister to bring amendments in various clauses of 'Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service of Employees) Act, 1974.
The Cabinet also approved to give status of Development Block to Gharota town in District Pathankot and 86 Panchaytas out of total 144 Panchaytas of Pathankot Block would be the part of the new development block.
The Cabinet also gave approval to transfer the Civil Hospital, Badal in district Muktsar to Baba Farid University of Medical Science, Faridkot. The Cabinet also gave nod to recruit 55 Junior Engineers in Water Supply & Sanitation Department through direct recruitment. The Cabinet also approved the re-inclusion the 44 revenue villages from Sub-Division Guru Harsahai in Ferozepur district to the Sub-Division Jalalabad in Fazilka district. Meanwhile Cabinet also approved to grant the status of Sub-Tehsil to the Kanugo Circle Joga in district Mansa.
The Cabinet also approved to establish RTI nodal cell in Information Technology Department..
