PUNJAB Cabinet approves launching of DR. Hargobind Khurana Post Matric Scholarship Scheme from August 15

Chandigarh, July 23, 2013: The Punjab Cabinet today approved the launching of Dr. Hargobind Khurana Post-Matric Scholarship scheme for the meritorious students of the Government and Adarsh schools securing 80% or more marks in the matriculation exams, from the August 15, 2013.

 A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today at Punjab Bhawan.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the scheme to be launched from Independence Day would be applicable to all those Government and Adarsh schools run by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). This scholarship amounting to Rs 30, 000 per annum would be disbursed to the students through e-transfer in their bank accounts @ of Rs 2500 per month. The students eligible for this scholarship would be sent appreciation letters from the Chief Minister, which would serve as a documentary proof for opening their bank accounts.  There would be no cap of income under this scheme and all those brilliant students who secured 80% or more marks would be entitled for this scholarship up to senior secondary level. This scholarship would put an additional burden of Rs 15 crore on the state exchequer during this fiscal. It may be recalled that the state government had already announced this scheme in the budget 2013-14.     

The Cabinet also gave approval to issue notification by amending 'The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955' thus accrediting the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL) Jalandhar to test the meat, since there was no statutory laboratory for testing meat or identifying the kind of slaughtered/killed animals.  This would help in identifying the source animal of the tested meat and would immensely help in preventing cow slaughter in the state.

The Cabinet also gave green signals to include Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) district from Jalandhar to newly created Rupnagar division.  The decision would not only provide a great relief to the people of this area in getting their routine work done but also enhance the coordination between various administrative departments of the state government.    Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar was already part of Ropar Police Range. 

The Cabinet also approved filling 461 posts of Inspectors in the Food and Civil Supplies Department after having taken them out from the purview of Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB). The direct recruitment to these posts would be conducted through Panjab University, Chandigarh on the basis of written test at the earliest to enable the department for ensuring smooth procurement and streamlining the public distribution system. 

The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for the recruitment of 120 Clerks (SDCs) of direct recruitment quota in the Public Works Department (B&R) through PSSSB. 

The Cabinet approved the proposals of the Transport department for restructuring tax pattern in the department and authorized the Transport Minister to take decision in this regard after taking into account the relevant factors.  

The Cabinet also approved to honour three students belonging to Punjab with a cash award of Rs.3 lakh each, who had successfully scaled Mount Everest.  This would help in promoting adventure sports amongst the youth.  The recipients of these awards were Prithvi Singh Chahal, Fateh Singh Brar and Haqikat Singh Grewal.  

The Cabinet also gave go ahead to the Home department to induct 300 serving or retired para-military personnel of various ranks into the Special Protection Unit of the Punjab Police, over a period of time, who fulfill the criteria of being served for at least five years tenure in the Special Protection Group, should not be more than 40 years with high level of medical fitness.   

The Cabinet decided to earmark funds equal to the percentage of the SC population of the state out of the total annual plan under the Schedule Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and vest the control of beneficiary oriented schemes included in budgeted SCSP to the Welfare department.  A sub-committee of Ministers would finalize the procedure for monitoring.   The Welfare department would be the nodal department for formulation and implementation of the SCSP and these funds would neither be divertible nor lapsable. However, if needed the diversion of SCSP funds would be done only after the approval of Welfare department.

The Cabinet also decided to allow the Anandpur Sahib Foundation to utilise Rs 20 crore out of its Corpus fund to carry out the development works relating to the Phase I and II of the Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib.

The Cabinet also gave nod to constitute a committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary with Financial Commissioner Revenue, Principal Secretary Finance, Principal Secretary Transport, Financial Commissioner Excise & Taxation and Taxation Commissioner Punjab as members to recommend rationalisation of rates of VAT on Petroleum products and Automobiles.

The Cabinet also gave nod to amend section 66 of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act 1955 through an ordinance namely ‘The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Ordinance, 2013 in the larger public interest thereby giving boost to the effective implementation of the Regional Plan prepared for Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) region.

The Cabinet also approved to amend section 3 (1) (c) of the Punjab Laws (Special provisions) Act 2013 by bringing an Ordinance to bring the unauthorized Colonies and buildings in the fold of the planning framework and thus provide the basic facilities to the residents of the unauthorised colonies, where either FIR has been lodged or the case was pending in any competent court of law.  But now provision has been made to compound the offences of all unauthorised colonies, where either FIR was lodged or the case was pending in the court.

In a bid to promote tourism in the state and benefit the general public, the Cabinet also gave nod to relax the conditions for setting up new hospitals, hotels and multimedia centres according to which now the minimum areas required for setting up of these would be 1000 square meters.  The provision of professional management tie up or franchise for hospital or hotel with any national/ international chain has been removed, while all other conditions remained unchanged. 

The Cabinet also decided to remove the anomaly in the pay scales of research assistants (Group A) of the Irrigation department by making their pay scales better than the pay scales of the feeding cadre of research assistant (Group B). 

The Cabinet also decided to include the newly built up reservoirs at Siswan and Mirzapur dam in SAS Nagar (Mohali) in the notified waters of Punjab Fisheries Rules, 1985.  It may be recalled there are 10 reservoirs, which have been included in notified waters and the department of Fisheries lease out the fishing rights of the rivers and reservoirs through an open auction.

The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for sanction of four posts of Data Entry Operators and three posts of Peons (on outsource basis) for effective implementation of New Pension scheme applicable to Punjab government employees who entered into service on or after April 1, 2004. 

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal presiding over a cabinet meeting at Chandigarh on Tuesday.