With the Punjab Government planning to come up with a law to ensure quota for the locals in Government and private sector jobs, the State Cabinet on Monday formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, to discuss the same.
Sources informed The Pioneer that the issue was discussed vociferously in the Cabinet meeting, with the suggestion to fix the quota for Punjabis at 75 per cent. “The matter is under consideration, and the government is planning to bring a new law to fix a quota for Punjabis. The decision on this will be taken soon,” said a Minister, who did not wish to be named.
The Minister informed that a new procedure would be adopted in future, and the employees from other states, already working in Punjab, will not be removed.
Notably, the State Government is analysing the provisions incorporated by other states, including neighbouring Haryana, in securing jobs for their local candidates in both government and private sectors, especially with providing employment being a major poll promise of the Congress Government.
As of now, the states of Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka, have in place reservation rules for local candidates in both government and private sectors.
DECISION ON NEW AG LIKELY TODAY
After all pulls and pressures exerted by Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu over the appointment of the state Advocate-General, the State Cabinet has given power to the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to take the final call in deciding on the name of the state’s new top law officer. Notably, the AG’s post is lying vacant after the Cabinet accepted senior advocate APS Deol’s resignation from the coveted post, after Sidhu’s persistent demand to replace him. It is believed that the Cabinet has discussed some names and the final decision will be taken up by Channi by Wednesday. The development assumes significance as the much-talked about drug case is coming up for hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday (November 18).
FREE UNIFORMS FOR GOVT STUDENTS
To increase enrolment, reduce dropout rate and attract students towards the Government Schools, the Cabinet decided to provide free uniforms to nearly 2.66 lakh left out boys of general category, studying in state’s Government Schools, from Classes I to VIII. For the same, the Government will spend approximately Rs 15.98 crore in the current financial year.
SIX CHAIRS TO BE SET UP IN GNDU, PBI UNIVERSITY
The Cabinet also accorded approval for setting up of Sant Kabir Sahib, Bhai Jeevan Singh or Bhai Jaita Ji and Makhan Shah Lubana Chairs in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; and Guru Ravidas Ji and Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Chairs in Punjabi University, Patiala. Apart from these, another chair would also be set up soon in the name of Bhagwan Parshuram Ji.
ELECTIONS DEPT RESTRUCTURE APPROVED
To bring far more efficiency in the state’s Elections Department, the Cabinet gave a go ahead for 898 permanent posts in the office of Punjab CEO (Chandigarh), 23 District Election Offices, 117 Office of Electoral Registration Officers under its restructuring plan. The Cabinet also gave approval for requisite staff for newly-created Malerkotla district.
BFUHS ALLOWED TO RECRUIT 1101 SANCTIONED POSTS
To effectively combat any eventuality of COVID-19 situation across the state, the Cabinet gave approval to allow the recruitment of 1101 sanctioned vacancies of Para-Medical Staff and other Group-C at Government Medical College, Patiala, Amritsar and Government Dental College, Patiala, and Amritsar to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, through written test on the basis of merit by taking these posts out of the purview of Subordinate Service Selection Board.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUGARCANE FARMERS HIKED
To ensure economic viability of Private Sugar Mills and timely cane payment of State Agreed Price (SAP) to the farmers for the Crushing Season, 2021-22, the Cabinet also gave approval to provide the financial assistance at the rate of Rs 35 per quintal to the sugarcane farmers out of SAP on behalf of Private Sugar Mills for the Crushing Season, 2021-2022. The amount would be deposited directly into the bank accounts of sugarcane farmers on behalf of sugarcane in all respects as per SAP fixed by the State Government.
GUIDELINES AMENDED TO UTILIZE FUNDS UNDER PNP
To obtain ex-post facto approval or approval for new work from Cabinet regarding revision of guidelines for utilization of funds under Punjab Nirman Programme (PNP), the Cabinet approved to amend the guidelines for utilization of funds under the Programme: “PM-10-State Level Initiatives-Punjab Nirman Programme” to incorporate additional permissible works and to ensure speedy implementation and execution of development works at the district level. The step would help to improve the living conditions of people of Punjab in both rural and urban areas, and to address their development needs more effectively at the grass-root level, in consultation with the local area representatives. The funds under this programme are provided for infrastructure and development works and for filling the missing gaps in local areas.
