In the election year, Himachal Pradesh has geared up for the disbursal of unemployment allowance to the jobless youth in the State with the State Cabinet on Monday giving its nod to appoint 160 employees to ensure smooth implementation of the “Unemployment Allowance Scheme-2017”.
The new appointments would include 140 data entry operators on outsourced basis (as may be required) and creation of 20 posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) to be filled up on contract basis. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
Virbhadra Singh had announced unemployment allowance for jobless youth, while presenting budget for 2017-18 on March 10. As per the Unemployment Allowance Scheme-2017 wherein the person is unemployed, should have passed plus two from any board/university recognised by the H.P. Government and should be registered with any employment exchange as on date of application for one year.
The other conditions to be eligible for unemployment allowance includes the annual financial income from all sources including their spouses for the financial years preceding date of application should be less than two lakh and the age should be above 20 years and below 35 years besides he/she should not have been dismissed from government services.
The cabinet also accorded approval to implement Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gramin Kaushal Yojna (DDU-GKY) under National Rural livelihood Mission. It was also decided that the concurrence of the State Government for contributing 10 per cent share of the cost of the above scheme be given to Government of India and 15000 youths would be trained and their placements would be ensured.
Rs 300 crore scheme (for three years) would aimed to diversify income of poor rural youths and to cater to their occupational aspiration by focusing on skilling and placement in the formal sector so that they get jobs with regular monthly basis which would be above the minimum wages. The beneficiaries will include youth from BPl families and those who have given 35 days of regular employment under MNREGA. The government has received a sum of Rs 150 crore as of now. Apart from this, 61 posts would be created on contractual basis of different categories.
The Cabinet also gave its nod for exempting 14 broad leaves tree species from the preview of HP Forest Produce Transit (land Routes) Rules, 2014 for ease of doing business. The people could now use the trees for their own use.
The Cabinet decided to devise new plantation strategy and de-linking of forest nurseries in order to improve the survival percentage of plants and establish the plantation successfully in a manner that the quality of forest in the state is improved in term of densification.
Approval was given for draft policy for managing lantana on forest lands by involving various stake holders including private entrepreneurs, industrialists, NGOs, Youth Club and Mahila Mandals with a view to increase grazing lands for enhancing the livelihood of rural population.
The nod given to frame a policy for the project staff of Forest Department engaged under Mid Himalayas Watershed Development Project (2015-2017), Swan River Project (2006-2016), Kandi Project-1 & II (1990-2005) and Indo-German Changar Project (1992-2006) so that services interests of the project staff could be protected and their interest watched.
It also decided to strengthen legal support system in forest department by creating one post of Deputy District Attorney in Forest Department in Office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest.
The Cabinet decided to constitute State Food Commission under the National Food Security Act, 2013 with Chairperson and five members including two non-official members.