PUNJAB CABINET LED BY CM APPROVES MECHANISM FOR DELIVERY OF ATTA/ WHEAT AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE BENEFICIARIES

Chandigarh: In a bid to provide the delivery of Atta/ Wheat at the doorstep of the beneficiaries, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday gave nod to introduce the concept of setting up the Model Fair Price Shops under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

A decision to this effect was taken by the council of Ministers in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat- I.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Cabinet has approved a revised mechanism for distribution of packaged Atta/packaged Wheat at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries. The distribution of Atta/ wheat shall be allowed in loose quantities, duly weighed, across the counter in Ration Depots or in special sealed packets delivered at the doorstep of the beneficiary or the nearest motorable point, by the Ration Depot Holder. It will be a more dignified way of receiving packaged Atta /packaged Wheat as the beneficiary shall not be required to stand in long queues, especially in inclement weather conditions.

All mandatory requirements of biometric verification, handing over of printed weight slip to the beneficiaries and others will be ensured while the delivery. The Home Delivery Service will introduce the concept of Model Fair Price Shops which will be run by ‘The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd.’, being the apex cooperative and preference provided under the NFS Act to cooperatives. The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. run Model Fair Price Shops shall also engage SMART Transport Services for supplying packaged wheat/Packaged Atta at the doorstep of the beneficiary.

APPROVES PUNJAB CRUSHER POLICY 2023 TO PROVIDE SAND AND GRAVEL AT AFFORDABLE RATES TO THE CONSUMERS

In order to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the consumers, besides ensuring its adequate supply in the state, the Cabinet also gave go ahead to Punjab Crusher Policy 2023. As per the policy, there will be two main classes of Crusher Units namely Commercial Crusher Units (CCU) and Public Crusher Units (PCU) adding that screening-cum-washing plants will also fall under the category of Crushers Units. A Public Crusher Unit shall be a registered Crusher Unit selected through a transparent -tendering process prescribed under the Punjab Transparency in public Procurement Act and based on the lowest mineral price (inclusive of loading charges and not exceeding the CSP), quoted by such a Crusher Unit.

The Government shall, from time to time, notify a price, called the “Crusher Sale Price” (CSP), beyond which no Mineral shall be sold by any Crusher Unit. CSP shall include the cost of mineral, transportation from mining site to the crusher unit, processing charges and profit and loading of mineral onto any permitted class of transportation vehicles. An online portal system shall be developed by the Department of Mines and Geology to register the crusher unit.

The crusher owners shall register their units themselves through online portal mode prepared by the Department and crusher owner may, if it so desires, participate in the bids for Commercial Mining Units under the Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy, 2023.The primary objective of the policy is to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the consumers and to ensure adequate supply of sand and gravel in the State, through appropriate market interventions by the Government.

GIVES GO AHEAD TO AMENDMENTS IN PUNJAB MINOR MINERALS RULES 2013 TO CURB THE MENACE OF ILLEGAL MINING

The Cabinet also approved amendments in Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013 to curb the menace of illegal mining and to increase the supply of minor minerals in the state. As the state government has notified, the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy, 2023 on March 13 this year so certain modifications in existing rules were required with regard to allocation of contracts to concessionaires and Public Mining sites. These amendments, aimed at making policy more efficient, pertains to definitions and installments of annual concession amount, Public mining sites, terms and conditions of surrender of concession for mining sites and agreement Form L-1 in the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013.

CONSENT TO POLICY FOR PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE FARM LABOURS DUE LOSS OF CROPS IN CASE OF NATURAL CALAMITY

The Cabinet also gave consent to a policy for providing relief to the farm labours due loss of crops in case of natural calamity. As relief amount is released to Deputy Commissioners for the relief of crop damage due to natural calamity so as per the policy additional 10 percent of the above relief amount will be provided to them out of the state budget to compensate the farm laborer. This policy will be effective from May 1, 2023 and all the farm labourers’ families who have no land (except residential plot) or those who have less than one acre of leased/ rented/ cultivated land will be eligible for it.

NOD TO REVIVE 39 POSTS OF TEACHING FACULTY IN NINE DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT DENTAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, AMRITSAR AND PATIALA

The Cabinet also gave nod to revive 39 posts of Teaching Faculty including five Professors, 10 Associate Professors and 24 Assistant Professors of direct recruitment in nine departments of Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar and Patiala besides taking them out of the purview of Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala to fill these posts through the departmental selection committee. This will help in imparting quality education to students studying in government dental colleges and also provide better healthcare facilities to the public.

APPROVES REVIVAL OF 11 POSTS IN THE PUNJAB LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

The Cabinet also approved the revival of 11 posts including three Readers, four Junior Scale Stenographers and four Ahlmeds in the Punjab Legal Services Authority. Apart from this, two posts of peons will be filled up through outsourcing .The revival of these posts will increase the working efficiency of the Punjab Legal Services Authority thereby expediting the disposal of work.

GREEN SIGNAL TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL 14 SUPERVISORS (YOGA) AND 200 TRAINERS (YOGA) FOR CM’S YOGASHALA PROJECT

In order to carve out a healthy and progressive Punjab by creating a mass movement of Yoga in the state, the Cabinet also gave green signal to recruit additional 14 Supervisors (Yoga) and 200 Trainers (Yoga) for CM’s Yogashala Project under the aegis of Guru Ravidas Ayurveda University Punjab, Hoshiarpur on consolidated salaries and four data entry operators at DC rates through outsourced agency. This move is aimed at promoting and facilitating yoga practices in the state through yoga sessions/classes for citizens.

APPROVES HIKE IN MONTHLY MAINTENANCE GRANT OF DHARMI FAUJIS

The Cabinet also gave consent to enhance the Monthly Maintenance Grant of the Operation Blue Star affected 76 soldiers (Dharmi Faujis) from Rs 10000/- to Rs 12000/-. The decision has been taken in wake of the escalating market inflation, current scenario and increase in daily needs of these Dharmi Faujis.

GIVES CONSENT TO ADJUST PENDING ELECTRICITY BILLS OF 366 REGISTERED GAUSHALAS

In another significant decision, the Cabinet also approved the adjustment of pending electricity bills worth Rs 8.50 crore related to 366 registered (verified/identified) Gaushalas including 20 Government cattle ponds in Punjab from October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 from the amount of Cow Cess collected and lying with PSPCL.

APPROVES STRUCTURE/ AMENDMENT OF THE GROUP A DEPARTMENTAL RULES IN LABOUR DEPARTMENT

The Cabinet also gave approval for structure/ amendment of the Group A departmental rules after the restructuring of the Labour department. The move is aimed at carrying out the work of the department in an efficient manner and to initiate the process related to creation of new posts in it.

NOD TO AMEND RULE 260 (3) AND 261 OF PUNJAB BUILDING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS RULES 2008

The Cabinet also gave green signal to amend certificate from employer and contractor in form number XXVII annexed with rule 260 (3) and insertion of new form number XXXIV in rule 261 of the Punjab Building and Other construction Workers Rules 2008. As per rule 260(3) the construction worker is required to give a self-certification of 90 days for his work as a construction worker during the preceding year (from the date of application) via Form no. XXVII but now in the amended form, the work details of the labourer are recorded in the matrix format with columns like: starting date of work, ending date of work, total days of work, nature of work, name of employer/contractor, mobile number of employer/ contractor and signature of employer /contractor. Further to ensure ease of registration, fee deposition in the form of cash will now be possible for which a new cash receipt has been added in a form number XXXIV in rule 261.

GIVES GO AHEAD TO EXEMPTION UNDER SECTION 63 OF THE PUNJAB TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT 2019

The Cabinet also approved exemption under Section 63 of the Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act 2019 thereby enabling the procuring entities to procure the services (both consultancy and Non consultancy) from National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), National Information Centre Services Inc (NICSI) under National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation under the Department of Defence Services Welfare, Punjab.

OKAYS ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT

The Punjab Cabinet also approved the Annual Administrative Report of the Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Department for the year 2021-22.