In an apparent bid to rehabilitate dissatisfied ruling BJD legislators who have not been made Ministers, the State Cabinet on Saturday approved a proposal to amend the Office of Profit Act, Odisha to appoint MlAs as Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the State Planning Board and the District Planning Committees and the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC).
The State Government will issue an Ordinance to this effect soon, said Chief Secretary AP Padhi after the Cabinet meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
This apart, the Cabinet approved four other proposals.
The Government would take over the seven Police High Schools in Baleswar, Angul, Baripada, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Puri and Rourkela. The takeover will cost the Government `10.32 lakh annually.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the Odisha Child and Women Welfare Rules for appointment of Anganwadi Supervisors. Now, 30 per cent of Anganwadi Supervisors would be appointed through direct recruitment, 40 per cent through promotion from among Gram Sevikas and 30 per cent from among Anganwadi Workers through a selection process.
Besides, a proposal to introduce computer education as an eligibility criterion for appointment of clerks in the Transport Department got the Cabinet’s nod. Accordingly, the Staff Selection Commission would hold computer knowledge tests instead of typewriting for recruitment of the Department’s clerks.
The Cabinet also formally approved the VAT hike on petrol and diesel from 23 per cent to 26 per cent already enforced on the Finance Department’s recommendation.