Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to set up a ministerial committee, under Deputy Chief Minister, to look into various aspects of regularisation of various categories of Government employees and make recommendation in this regard in the next Cabinet meeting.
The committee comprises Finance Minister, Industries and Commerce Minister, local Government Minister, Education Minister and Health Minister.
The Cabinet has also approved to create Road Safety Fund, in compliance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
“Punjab Road Safety Fund (Draft) Rules, 2016, have been made by the State Transport Department as per the directions of the Committee constituted by the Supreme Court which suggested constituting Road Safety Fund for taking time a bound action to reduce road accidents,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
In view of the start of paddy procurement, the Cabinet has decided that all the Ministers would be touring extensively in various mandis to ensure smooth and hassle free procurement of paddy across the state. For the same, duties have been assigned to all Ministers.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet also gave green signal to the policy for disposal of apartments or plots for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the Municipal areas of the state.
Approval was also given by the Council of Ministers to initiate the process of disbursement of cash grant to the eligible war widows or legal heirs.
The decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet on August 11, 2016, in its meeting.
“All those who had applied till January 4, 2010, would be eligible for this benefit. A committee of Revenue Minister and Financial Commissioner (Revenue) has been formed to take the process further,” said the spokesperson.
Cabinet also approved the Punjab Cooperative Audit (Group-B) Service Rules, 2016; besides approving the recruitment of 102 persons on contract basis under grant of 13th Finance Commission in the Economic and Statistical Organization of Planning Department.
The meeting also decided that the government would be holding grand functions on October 31 and November 1, this year to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the formation of the Punjab state.
later, replying to the media queries, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, Harcharan Bains said that 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been demanded by Punjab government from the Centre for the border areas of the state.
Criticizing the recent statements of Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh, and senior Congress MlA Sunil Jakhar wherein they had raised doubts on the evacuation decision of the Punjab government, Bains said that such statements were against the integrity of the nation and the armed forces and were not expected from the politicians of their stature.