The State Cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to constitute an Odisha Food Commission as per the National Food Security Act (NFAS) 2013.
The Cabinet meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also approved six other proposals.
As per the approval, a new rule ‘The Odisha State Food Commission Rules, 2016 would be approved for constitution of the Food Commission. The rules would deal with appointment of Chairperson and other members and staff of the commission.
The commission would monitor and evaluate the implementation of the NFSA Act and advice Government for its effective execution as well. Besides, it would hear appeals against order of the District Grievance Redressal Officers (DGROs) and inquire either suo motu or on receipt of complaint into violation of entitlements provided under the Act.
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department’s proposal for creation of 142 new posts in the Odisha Administrative Service Group -A (JB) Cadre was approved with a revision. While the pre-restructured cadre strengths of the OAS, Group-A(JB) was 854, in increased to 996 after the revision.
The Cabinet approved a proposal to nominate the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (SISSO) as the implementing agency for Design, Build, Operation, Maintain and Transfer (DBOMT) basis for 5,957 hybrid toilets in nine AMRUT schemes covering nine UlBs such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Puri, Baleswar, Bhadrak and Baripada. Around 45 per cent of urban population of the State would be covered under this facility.
The Finance Department’s proposal to ament the Orissa Subordinate Finance Service (local Fund Audit) Rules, 1995 vis-a’-vis promotion of Ministerial staffs to post of Auditors. As per the amended rules, a Ministerial Staff with minimum qualification of graduation and under age of 54 would be eligible for such a promotion. Earlier, matric was the minimum age limit and there was no age bar.
Further, both direct recruits and promotee auditors would henceforth take practical food training and computer training.
A new rule, ‘Odisha Village Agricultural Workers (Recruitment and Training) Rules, 2016’ to create a competent cadre of VAWs was approved by the Cabinet. The new rules provide for recruitment of VAWs by the Odisha Sub-ordinate Staff Selection Commission. While minimum educational qualification of +2 Science or +2 Vocations Course in Agriculture has been prescribed, those possessing Diploma in Agriculture Polytechnic will be awarded 5 per cent extra marks of the marks secured in the written examination.
Besides, the Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Odisha Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM), 2015 to enable the State for additional annual borrowing of 0.5 per cent. The State fulfills two required conditions to get the enhanced borrowing limit of 3.5 per cent of the GSDP.
This apart, the Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Odisha Electricity (Duty) Act 1961. The amendment is necessary to cover up all the generating units, whether IPP or CPP, on the same footing for assessment of electricity duty on self consumption. The amendment will enable the Government to cover the electricity duty from all the generating units having no record of generation/consumption.