Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, accorded approval to give skill development allowance to the eligible educated unemployed youth for their skill development. This decision has come in fulfilment of promise made by the Congress Party in its election manifesto. The Chief Minister had announced to start Himachal Pradesh Payment of Skill Development Allowance to Educated Unemployed Persons Scheme during his budget speech.

The scheme aims at enabling such youth to develop their skill which in turn will enable them to take up employment or self-employment in the sector of their choice. Under the scheme, provision has been made to provide skill development allowance to the youth aging between 25 to 35 years of the State who have at least passed ten plus two from State recognised educational institutions and whose name was registered in employment exchanges for the last two years at the time of submission of application. Under the scheme, the candidates will be given an allowance of Rs. 1000 per month whereas those eligible youth who are 50 percent or more handicapped will get Rs. 1500 per month.

The cabinet decided to enhance marriage grant to bonafide Himachali destitute/women to Rs. 25,000 and also to enhance the income limit for eligibility to Rs. 20,000 per annum under Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana.

It also approved the revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners. The pension of pensioners and family pensioners of pre-2006 period will be further stepped up to 50 percent and 30 percent respectively of the minimum of the pay in the pay band and grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale.

The decision was taken to enhance winter allowance from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per month of the employees of the State working in tribal and hard areas.

Cabinet also accorded its nod to approve the procedure for clearance of proposals by State Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority (SLSWC&MC) for setting up of industrial units in the State with-in 90 days of the receipt of the proposal. This decision has also come in fulfilment of Chief Minister’s announcement in his budget speech.

The Cabinet decided to enhance the benefits under the welfare schemes framed under the H.P. Building & Other Construction Workers Rule, 2008.

It also approved to enhance the financial assistance under Widow Re-marriage Scheme from Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 50,000/-

Cabinet gave its nod to upgrade Primary Health Centre Katola to Community Health Centre Katola in District Mandi.

It also accorded its approval to upgrade Community Health Centre Haroli to 50 bedded Civil Hospital in Una District.

Cabinet also gave its approval to create posts for the newly opened Primary Health Centre at Gulthani Jawaharnagar and Sub Tehsil Dhami in Shimla District.

The cabinet took decision to issue show cause notices to all five cement plants which had been approved in the past but had not taken adequate steps for commissioning of the plants, asking them why the approval granted to them may not be withdrawn. These cement plants include Keran Limestone deposits, Tehsil Sundernagar, Distt Mandi of M/S. Harish Cements Ltd, Alsindi plant in Karsog Tehsil of Mandi district of M/S Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd, Gumma-Rohana plant, Tehsil Chopal in district Shimla of M/S The India Cement Ltd., Cement Plant (Unit-II) based on already leased out Baga Bhalag Limestone deposits in Teshsil Arki of Solan district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd., and Baroh-Shind plant in Tehsil Churah of Chamba district by M/S Jai Prakash Associates Ltd.

It was also decided to grant prospecting license to M/S Reliance Cement Company for setting up of a large cement plant based on Limestone, Shale and Quartzite in village Sugarthi, Thangar, Kura Khera, Pauli Kheram Kandal and Bedera in Chopal tehsil of Shimla district measuring 25 square kilometres (2500 hectares).

The cabinet gave approval for extending Shahnahar project Division, Ghandran up to 31 December, 2013.

The cabinet gave consent for declaring one barrack each of Model Central Jail Nahan, Model Central Jail, Kanda, (Shimla), District Jail Chamba, Sub-Jail Mandi and Sub-Jail Solan as open jail.

Approval was given to amend recruitment and promotion rules of Child Development Project Officers in H.P Social Justice & Empowerment department and restore earlier provisions of 2007.

It also accorded approval for filling up of six posts of treasury officers in Treasury, Accounts and Lottery Department in the pay scale of 10,300-34800 and 5000 grade pay by direct recruitment through H.P Public Service Commission. Approval was granted for creation of Cyber Treasury enabling online receipt of all kinds of government receipts in the department.

It was decided to fill up six posts of drivers through outsourcing in Water Supply and Sewerage Division, Shimla of Irrigation & Public Health Department.

The H.P. Cabinet, which met here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh, approved to introduce revised Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Vocationalization of Higher Secondary Education operated with in the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF). The decision has been taken in fulfillment of the announcement of Chief Minister in his budget speech to start vocational education in 100 new Senior Secondary Schools with four courses in Automobile, Retail, Security and IT with a view to improve the employability of students from 9th  to 12th  class under NVEQF scheme during 2013-14.

These courses will be industry driven based upon National Occupational Standards (NOS) set by Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) in association with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). This scheme will also help in reduction in school dropout rates and better attendance levels due to better job prospects. Government of India has sanctioned a proposal to the tune of Rs. 4463 lakhs for the State to introduce these vocational courses in four trades whereas State share will be Rs. 562 lakhs.

The Cabinet gave nod to enhance the grant for inter-caste marriages from Rs. 25,000 to Rs.50,000, which was announced by the Chief Minister in his budget speech.

Approval was accorded to H.P. Land Revenue (Amendment) Act, 2013. As per the amendment, earlier provisions of sections 34 and 35 have been restored, which were in existence before the Act No. 41 of 2011. It will empower the Revenue Officers to attest the mutations during field visits only and the interested parties will get an opportunity of being heard.

Cabinet decided to establish 10 Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) at District Headquarters of the State except in Kinnaur and lahaul-Spiti districts. At present, three RTA’s are working in the State at Shimla, Mandi and Dharamshala. The decision has been taken to facilitate the private passenger vehicles and bus operators in getting route permit, time-table and vehicle fitness related works done. Lahaul Spiti will be attached with RTA Office, Kullu while Kinnaur with RTA Office, Shimla.

It also gave approval for enhancement of War Jagirs from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 per month by amending War Awards Act, 1972. This decision also comes in fulfillment of the announcement of Chief Minister in budget speech.

It approved for enhancing the annual income limit for appointment of Anganwari Workers/Helpers/Mini Anganwari Workers from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000.

Decision was taken to convert Part Time Water Workers who have completed nine years of continuous service, into Daily Wagers.

It decided to re-bid the Jangi-Thopan and Thopan-Powari Projects as a single project Jangi-Thopan-Powari of 960 MW capacity. This hydro electric project will be re-bid as per the new hydro policy. Cabinet also decided to reject the representation made by Ms. Brakel Corporation NV and Ms. Reliance Infrastructure.

Approval was given for filling up of four posts of Assistant Public Relations Officers and two posts of Sub-Editors, Class-II (Non-Gazetted), and three posts of Steno-Typists Class-III (Non-Gazetted) on contract basis in the Information and Public Relations Department.

It also approved filling up of one post of Manager (IT) and one post of Deputy Manager (IT) in Department of Information Technology on contract basis by way of direct recruitment through H.P. Public Service Commission.

Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh presided over the Cabinet meeting held here today. The Cabinet gave consent for issuance of Letter of Intent to the applicants for grant of mining leases/renewal of mining lease, enabling them to apply for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance and completing other formalities. The Letter of Intent will be issued at the directorate level in those cases where government has agreed in principal for grant/renewal of mining lease.

The Cabinet decided to amend ‘Financial Assistance and Support Services to victim of rape: a Scheme for restorative justice’. Now, the assistance will be available in those cases where the FIR has been registered on or after the date on which State and District level Criminal Relief and Rehabilitation Boards were constituted or notified (i.e. on 21st May, 2011). It was also decided to rename the scheme as Himachal Pradesh Financial Assistance and Support Services to victims of rape Scheme-2012.

Decision has been taken to shift the PWD Sub-Division (Horticulture) from Shimla back to Solan.

The Cabinet decided to re-look into the amendments made in certain clauses of the hydro power policy by the previous Government.

The decision was taken to continue with the existing policy of sanctioning cases of compassionate appointments with the approval of Finance Department. The Finance Department will sanction the cases of compassionate appointments on the basis of seniority as per the date of the death of the deceased government employee and eligibility. 

Cabinet also granted its approval for budget estimates of the financial year 2013-14.

It also approved for filling up of 11 vacant posts of Tehsil Welfare Officer’s through direct recruitment on contract basis.  It was decided to fill up nine vacant posts of Child Development Project Officer in Social Justice and Empowerment Department by direct recruitment on contract basis.

The decision has been taken to grant ex-post facto approval for depositing tax under Rule 40 (1) of H.P Value Added Tax Rules. As per the Rules, every registered dealer is required to furnish self-assess return quarterly, but due to heavy snowfall in tribal areas of the State, the dealers of Kinnaur district could not file their returns in time, i.e. 31 January, 2012 and they were granted extension up to 28 February, 2013.

The cabinet gave sanction for creation of one post of Advisor (Media) in favour of Shri Subhash Ahluwalia (Retd.), IAS, as co-terminus in Information and Public Relations Department.

It was also decided to restore the status-quo with reference to provisions in the post of R&P Rules for the post of Supervisor in the Social Justice and Empowerment Department.

The Cabinet also made a decision to insert new provisions in the H.P. Liquor License Rules, 1986, for grant of Ahatha License in rural areas of the State.  It was observed that Liquor was being consumed on the way side Dhabas etc. in remote and distance rural localities of the State without holding any license from Excise department.

The Cabinet also reviewed various decisions taken by the previous Government during the last six months of its tenure.

The Cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh, here today decided to convert the cadre of Panchayat Secretary to State cadre and Panchayat Sahayak to district cadre. Earlier these cadres were district and block cadres respectively.

It was also approved to adopt a auction cum tender policy for toll tax barriers from next financial year.

Cabinet decided to continue with the free school uniform scheme and renamed it as “Mahatma Gandhi Vardi Yojna”.  It was also constitute a committee under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (F&CS)  for finalization of purchasing cloth, specification, design, colour and handling charges  etc.

Cabinet also decided to invite tender afresh for Shimla Water Supply and Sewerage Project to built, operate and maintain water supply and sewerage system for Shimla city under PPP mode.

Cabinet decided to constitute a Sub-Committee for spot inspection for axing and chopping off trees which are posing a threat to human life and property in Shimla MC area.  Forest Minister, Excise and Taxation Minister and Urban Development Minister will be the member of the committee. 

Cabinet also approved  to entrust Audit of  M/S Mashobra Resorts Pvt. Ltd. to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) right from 1995 onwards.

It gave its approval to fill up posts of TGT (Arts), TGT (Non-Medical), TGT (Medical), Shashtri and Language Teachers through  Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Board (HPSSSB) as per existing recruitment and promotion rules. It was also decided that Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for the above mentioned posts would be conducted by Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education on the analogy of JBT.

Cabinet gave its nod to open a Fire Post in Kala Amb of district Sirmour and one Fire Post at Sri Naina Devi Ji in Bilaspur district. It was decided that Police Post near Kharsi in district Bilaspur would be opened.

Cabinet gave its approval to grant Special Pay to certain categories of Personal Staff working in H.P. Secretariat and its equivalent offices as per Punjab Government orders on prospective effect.

It was decided in the meeting that 70 Fireman would be re-designated as Honorary Leading Firemen with special allowance of Rs. 80/- per month to those who has completed 20 years of service without any promotion/additional financial benefits in Civil Defence department.

Cabinet gave its approval to fill up 50 posts of Warders which includes 10 posts of Female Warders on contract basis in Prison department.

It was decided to fill up one post of District Employment Officer Class-I Gazetted through direct recruitment, three vacant posts of Clerks in Youth Services and Sports Department on Contract basis and one post of Mason Class-III in Forest Department.

Cabinet approved the creation of 8 posts of different categories in Election Department, creation of 1 post of Superintendent Grade-I in Planning Department. It was also decided that 17 backlog posts of TGT (Non-Medical) would be filled on contract basis.

Cabinet approved R& P Rules for Planning Officer Class-I Gazetted in Town and Country Department, approved amendment in R& P Rules for Commandant/Junior Staff Officer in Civil Defence Department and R&P Rules for the post of Joint Director in Directorate of Scheduled Caste, other Backward Classes and Minority Affairs. Amendment in R&P Rules for Deputy Director/Deputy Controller, Class-I Gazetted was also approved so as to increase the number of posts from six to seven.

It was also decided to declare one barrack of District Jail Dharamshala in Kangra district as Open Air Jail. 

Cabinet decided to enhance fixed medical allowance of Judicial Officers from Rs. 100 to Rs. 1000 per month and to fix the medical allowance of Retired Judicial Officers and Family Pensioners at Rs. 1500 per month and Rs. 750 per month respectively as recommended by Justice Padmanabhan Committee.

Approval was also given to re-name Sunni Degree College as Government Degree College Sunni  and Bangana College as Government Degree College Bangana.

Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister here today, decided to reopen all those 149 Government Schools which were de-notified during previous Government’s regime. These include 34 Primary, 66 Middle, 25 High and 24 Senior Secondary Schools.

It was decided that global tenders would be invited for purchasing pulses under subsidized ration scheme.

Cabinet decided that cadre of Para Medical Staff which was converted from State to District Cadre by the previous Government would again be made State Cadre.

It was decided that all the Nursing Institutions for which NOC was given by previous Government would be inspected and verified whether the norms prescribed by Indian Nursing Council are fulfilled or not and in cases where NOC was granted and project remained unimplemented, because Indian Nursing Council had not granted them permission would be reviewed.

In order to provide quality education in the State it was decided that plans would be made in accordance with the Manifesto of the Congress Party which has been adopted as Policy Document.

Cabinet gave its approval to sign tripartite MoU for creating National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) for Panchayats in the State with Department of Telecommunications, Government of India and M/S Bharat Broadband Network Limited with conditions/observations of PWD, Forests, Municipality, Panchayat Authorities, Electricity Board Ltd. and IPH department of Himachal Pradesh.  The NOFN will help in proliferating the benefits of Information and Technology down to panchayat level. It would also help in facilitating electronic delivery of services like e-education, e-health, e-banking, e-agriculture etc. to the rural population of the State. It would also generate additional employment which will decrease the migration of population from rural areas to urban areas.

It was decided in the meeting that MoU signed to construct rope way between Shri Naina Devi Ji and Shri Anandpur Sahib would be reviewed by a committee headed by Chief Secretary and report would be placed before the Cabinet.

Cabinet decided to provide a consolidated salary of Rs. 26,250 per month to all Dental Medical Officers appointed on or after 18th August, 2010. It was also decided to regularize the services of 64 Dental Medical Officers appointed in 2007 on contract basis. A regularization Policy for Dental Medical Officers on the analogy of Medical Officer (General) appointed under Rogi Kalyan Samiti was also approved.  It was also decided that all Medical Officers appointed on RKS contract would be moved to Government contract.

Cabinet decided to repeal the sixth amendment made in the Himachal Pradesh Right to Information Act-2006 in public interest. Amendment allowed the Public Information Officer, the first appellate authority and the Information Commission to dismiss the appeal of the person, who claims information under RTI Act, on the base that he or his representatives fails to appear in the hearing. The decision to repeal the amendment would help the matters to be disposed on merits while keeping in the view the spirits of the Act.

Cabinet gave its approval for shifting of  North Circle office of HIMUDA from Hamirpur to Dharamshala along with existing staff.

It was decided in the meeting that Tube Well Sub Division Amb along with eight posts of different categories to be transferred to Jhelara and to open Flood Control Sub Division at Jhelara in Una District. 

Cabinet decided to defer the implementation of the Constitution (85th Amendment) Act, 2001 and continue with the existing reservation system till the finalization of this matter, in view of ongoing process of the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 by the Union Government.

It was decided to amend the policy being implemented for admissions in Post Graduate Degree/Diploma Courses in all Govt. and Private Medical and Dental Colleges of the State. As per this amendment, from the academic year 2013-14 and for the next three academic sessions,  the admissions would be made on the basis of 66.6 percent quota for the General Duty Officers (GDO) and 33.3 percent direct quota under the 50 percent State Quota. As per the prevailing norms  90 percent seats were reserved for GDOs, which was going to be increased to 95 percent from 2013-14 session. This was found impractical as adequate numbers of GDOs were not available for these courses.

Cabinet gave its approval to fill up 205 posts of Forest Guards on contract basis in the Forest Department. It was decided to create 28 posts of Clerks in Settlement Department on supernumerary basis, one post of Librarian in the office of Advocate General on contract basis, 20 posts of Assistant Professors in IGMC, Shimla and Dr. Rajendra Prashad Government Medical College, Tanda, Kangra through direct recruitment.  Cabinet also approved the creation of eight posts of Additional Advocate Generals and One post of Deputy Advocate General in the office of Advocate General Himachal Pradesh on tenure basis and to create nine additional posts of Radiographers in IGMC Shimla on contract basis. It was also decided to create ten posts of Designated Officers (Class-I Gazetted) under Food Safety and Standard Act-2006. Out of these 10 posts, 50 percent would be filled up by direct recruitment and 50 percent by promotion. 

It was also approved to fill up vacant post of Scientific Assistant in Biology and Serology division in Regional Forensic Science Laboratory at Dharamshala on contract basis through direct recruitment.

Cabinet also approved Recruitment and Promotion Rules for the post of Radiation Safety Officer, Class-I (Gazetted) in IGMC Shimla, R&P Rules for Project Officer (Class-I Gazetted) and Anaesthist (Class-I Gazetted) in the Ayurveda Department.

Cabinet reviewed all the decisions taken by the previous Government during the last six months.

It was also decided in the meeting that Sub Divisions (Civil) Salooni-Dalhousie which was reconstituted on 22th June, 2012 would again be restored to its original jurisdiction. 

It was decided in the meeting that HP govt. has given consent in principal to participate in Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) of Govt. of India. Under the scheme 50 per cent of the financial losses or short term liabilities whichever is less, of the State Electricity Board ending March,2012 shall be taken by the State Govt.

The financial losses of HPSEBL is amounting to about Rs. 1400 crores, 50 per cent of the this i.e. about Rs. 700 crores shall be taken over by the Govt. of HP and the rest shall be converted into long term loan to be met with by the State Electricity Board.

Under the FRP the Govt. of India will appoint a nodal bank to make the Financial Restructuring Plan on above lines in consultation with the HPSEBL and the plan shall again be brought for approval of the state Govt. after taking due approval of the State Regulatory Commission.

However the consent of the State Govt. is subject to the condition that the Govt. of India may consider the re-imbursement of 50 per cent of the loan instead of 25 per cent reimbursement given under the plan. Further it may also consider relaxing the Fiscal Responsibility Budget Management Act provisions by atleast equivalent to the liability of Rs. 700 crores to be taken over by the Himachal Government.

It is relevant to mention here that the total short term liabilities of HPSEBL ending March,2012 were to the tune of approximately Rs. 2700 crores. The scheme allows minimum of the short term liabilities or the accumulated financial loses ending  March,2012 which is about Rs.1400 crores. 

Under the scheme the Govt. of India shall provide incentive in the next three years to the tune of about Rs.500 crores on reduction of Aggregate Technical  and Commercial (AT&C) losses beyond the targets fixed under Restructured Accelerated Power Development & Reform Programme (RAPDRP). In addition to this about Rs. 175 crores shall be given as grant to the State Govt. in lieu of taking over the 50 per cent of the financial losses of the board limited by the Government of India. 

There are certain other conditions that will have to be met with by the HPSEBL and the State Govt. over the next 2 to 5 years.

The Cabinet decided to amend the Recruitment and Promotion Rules of Director Prosecution in Home (Prosecution) department.

Approval was granted for placing documents pertaining to Himachal Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005 before the Vidhan Sabha along-with Statements and Review of trends of revenue receipts and expenditure, remedial measures proposed to be undertaken by the Government, Sound Fiscal Policy strategy with a thrust on economic development so as to achieve increase in State Gross Domestic Product (GDP) etc.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to create a post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on contractual basis and co-terminus with Chief Minister, in the office of Chief Minister. The cabinet decided to appoint Shri Amit Pal Singh S/O Shri Kulvinder Pal of Bir (Baijnath) in district Kangra, on this post with effect from 25th December, 2012.

Approval was granted to create one post of Advisor to the Chief Minister who will coordinate and Monitor all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Since there are large number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes covering sectors like Agriculture, Horticulture, Health, Irrigation and Public Health, Rural and Urban Development, Social Security, Tourism, Education, Power etc, the Cabinet decided to give Ex-post facto sanction for appointing Sh. T.G. Negi IAS (Retd.) on this post with effect from 25th December, 2012 on co-terminus basis.

The Cabinet decided to constitute a Sub-Committee of three ministers Shri Kaul Singh Thakur, Shri G.S. Bali and Mukesh Agnihotri for setting up certain guiding principles on policy for regulating transfers of employees of State Government.

The Cabinet also gave its approval to hire Mi-172 Helicopter of M/s Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd for five years w.e.f. 1st January 2013 on Wet Lease by the State Government.

It was decided to create the post of Engineer-in-Chief PWD (Designs and Quality Control) from 1st January to 30th June 2013 and cease the post of Engineer-in-Chief (Projects) from 1st January onwards.

25 December,2012

Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister after assuming the office presided over the first Cabinet meeting in which he thanked the people of Himachal Pradesh especially the electorates who with over welcoming voting brought Congress Party in power.

It was decided in the Cabinet meeting to adopt the Congress Party Manifesto as official document of the Government.

It was also decided to terminate all extensions and re-employments forthwith. All the decisions taken by previous Government in last six months to be reviewed.

It was decided to convene first Assembly Session of 12th Vidhan Sabha at Dharamshala from 8th to 11th January, 2013 in which oath will be given to newly elected members of Legislative Assembly. In additional to it, the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will also be held. It was decided that this being the first session of new Vidhan Sabha in the new calendar year, therefore Governor Address will also be given on the occasion.

Cabinet decided that steps be taken for framing policy for regularization of PTA Teachers in the State. All notified schools which were closed during last five years, would be reviewed.

It was decided that employees, who were on secondment basis in Secretariat and were reverted back to parent departments, they will be taken back in the Secretariat.

It was decided that criminal cases registered on political grounds and for political agitation where no violence and breakage was involved, be withdrawn.