Clearance to amendments to service rules for school teaching and non-teaching cadres

Decision by Punjab Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh

Chandigarh: The Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday approved amendments to the Punjab Educational Service Rules (Teaching Cadre) and Non Teaching Cadres of the Department of School Education, to realign them with various court judgements and change in the basic qualifications for various cadres.
According to an official spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, the rules governing service conditions of government employees to various services of the Department of School Education had become outdated and virtually outlived their relevance, since these rules were framed in the years 1941, 1955, 1978, 1995 and 2004 to regulate recruitment and service conditions of various teaching and non-teaching personnel.
The amendments/changes would be incorporated in various existing rules viz. the Punjab State Educational (School and Inspection Cadre General) Group-A Service Rules, 2018, the Punjab Educational (School and Inspection Cadre) Group-B Service Rules, 2018, the Punjab State Elementary Education (Administrative Cadre) Group-B Service Rules, 2018, the Punjab Educational Service (Teaching Cadre) Group-C Service Rules, 2018 and the Punjab State Elementary Educational (Teaching Cadre) Group-C Service Rules, 2018.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the Administrative Report of the Punjab State Food Commission for the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17.

RS.1353 CR RELEASED FOR POWER SUBSIDY, RETIRAL BENEFITS ETC., ON DIRECTIVES OF PUNJAB CM
On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Finance Department has released Rs. 1353.03 Crores on account of power subsidy to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), Local Government and Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, besides payment of retiral benefits to employees, who had superannuated till September 30, 2019.
Disclosing this here, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that funds to the tune of Rs. 400 crore had been released to the PSPCL for agriculture power subsidy to farmers, with another Rs.181.63 crore released for making payments for retiral benefits including GPF/Leave Encashment to employees who had retired up to September 30, 2019. A sum of Rs.153.90 crore has been given to Local Government department for Punjab Municipal Fund.
Further, a sum of Rs.121.82 crore on aacount of medical, Petroleum Oil and Lubricant (POL), water/electricity, material supplies and office expenses has also been released till December 18, 2019. Another Rs.100 crore has been given to Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and Rs.33.32 crore to Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Fund for execution of various development works in urban areas.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the Finance Department has released Rs.52.74 crore for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), National Health Mission (Rs.86.04 crore), Mid-Day Meal (Rs.34.46 crore), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana PMAY-Urban (Rs.30.72 crore), National Social Assistance Programme (Rs.25.89 crore), Samagraha Shiksha Abhiyan Secondary (Rs.25 crore), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (Rs.3.42 crore), Non-Plan Schemes (Rs.7.69 crore), Border Area Development Programme (Rs.17.23 crore), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana DDUGKY (Rs.15 crore), Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary (Rs.2.61 crore), Integrated Child Development Services (Rs.6.52 crore), National Education Mission NEM (Rs.3.53 crore), National Livelihood Mission (Rs.8.84 crore), National Rural Drinking Water Mission (Rs.2.11 crore), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rs.8 crore) and others including modernization of Police Forces, White Revolution (Rs.4.51 crore).
Apart from these, Rs.7 crore has been released for remuneration to the Lambardaar, Rs.5.70 crore for Environment Action Plan (EAP) of Water Supply & Sanitation, Rs.3.02 crore for the execution of various development projects under NABARD, Rs.6.23 crore under pre-matric OBC Scholarship scheme, Rs. 5 crore for upgradation and modernization of sugar mills, Rs.81 lakh for Child Welfare Council and Rs.29 lakh for Punjab Raj Bhavan.

CABINET GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR MRO FACILITY AT PATIALA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PUNJAB AS AVIATION HUB
To promote the aviation sector, identified as a thrust area in the Industrial and Business Development Policy 2017, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday approved leasing of four sites, of 5000 sq feet each, for the development of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Patiala Aviation Complex (PAC).
The move was aimed at enabling Punjab’s development as a hub for the aviation and defence industry to tap the future potential of the sector and create employment opportunities for youth, said an official spokesperson after the Cabinet meeting.
The Department of Civil Aviation has received communication from the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion (Invest Punjab), Department of Investment Promotion, regarding the setting up of MRO facility in Punjab. Various companies have expressed interest in setting up such a facility in Punjab and have requested for space near airports, preferably hangar sites at airports/flying clubs.
While proximity of Chandigarh/Patiala from the national capital Delhi makes it an ideal ground for setting up of MROs, the Department of Civil Aviation does not have any land at Chandigarh/SAS Nagar. However, it has around 235 acres of land at the Patiala Aviation Complex, which currently houses a Flying Training School, an operational runway for medium size aircraft used for flying training, the Punjab State Aeronautical Engineering College for aeronautical engineers and the Punjab Aircraft Maintenance Engineering College (PAMEC) for technicians. It also houses the Civil Aviation regulatory body – the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA).

CABINET GIVES GO-AHEAD TO HAND OVER POSSESSION OF PKVC PROPERTY TO AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Finding that the Punjab Kisan Vikas Chamber (PKVC), Mohali, had totally failed in its objective of ensuring farmer welfare, the Punjab Cabinet on Thursday gave the nod to hand over the possession of two acres of its land and office in Mohali to the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The move is aimed at enabling optimal utilization of the property, which had been provided free of cost to PKVC, for the welfare of farmers.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the office of Punjab State Farmers & Farm Labourers Commission and Agriculture Marketing Innovation Research & Intelligence Centre (AMIRIC), which are focused on farmers’ issues and aimed at supporting farmers, will now be established in the building. Other institutions, including PKVC, will be allowed to conduct seminars for the welfare of the farmers in the premises.
The spokesperson further said that the Cabinet had also observed that the amount that remains pending from the Rs.25 crore granted to the Chamber would also need to be taken back from it.
Notably, the Council of Ministers, in its meeting on February 25, 2016, had cleared the way for the establishment of PKVC as a Society, and the two acres of land was allotted free of cost in Mohali by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to it, with the actual value of the land i.e. Rs.8.47 crore adjusted from CLU charges of its Scheme and License Fees. Additionally, Punjab government had granted Rs.10 crore vide letter dated May 18, 2016 and Rs.15 crore vide letter dated November 9, 2016. The Society built the office at an estimated amount of Rs.21.93 crore and the balance amount of approximately Rs.3 crore still lies with it.
It may be noted that the state government, vide letters dated September 25, 2019, October 7, 2019 and October 22, 2019, had sought a report from the Secretary General as to what steps had been taken by the Chamber to improve the economic conditions of the farmers, and how much success it got in this regard, in the three years since PKVC was established. Subsequently, a report was submitted by PKVC on November 7, 2019, after scrutinising the report, it was found that the chamber did not make any worthwhile efforts to improve the economic conditions of the farmers nor had the farmers benefitted in any way.

CABINET APPROVES PUNJAB ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND RULES, 2019
The State Cabinet on Thursday approved ‘the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Rules, 2019’ to pave the way for implementation of the related Act.
This decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh here at Punjab Bhawan.
According to an official spokesperson, the state government is required to prepare and notify the amended rules under Section 28 of the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2002.
The rules would provide for deposit of funds in nationalised bank, preparation of annual statement of Accounts & Budget Estimates and Accounts of Expenditure & Investment as well as the Annual Audit. The amendment will provide for procedure for admission to the Fund as well as removal from membership. It also contains a provision for appointment of staff to carry out various activities.
It may be recalled that the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2002 was enacted for constitution of a Fund and utilisation thereof, for the welfare of advocates belonging to the State of Punjab. The income to the Fund comes from grant from the state government, funds collected by the Bar Council, voluntary donations, grant from Central Government etc. The funds are to be spent for the welfare of advocates for various purposes like Group Insurance to advocates, financial aid to deserving advocates, medical insurance to advocates, financial aid in case of serious illness etc.