Haryana Cabinet on Wednesday decided that the State Government employees would now avail loans through scheduled banks at the same rate of interest as is admissible through the Government.
“Haryana Government employees will have win-win situation as far as the facility of loans for housing, vehicles, computers and marriage etc. are concerned. Also, now they will not have to wait for days to get their applications processed,” said a spokesperson of State Government.
"The Cabinet decided to shift its portfolio to the banks. The State Government would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with banks, which would ensure quick release of loans when required," the spokesman said.
The rate of interest charged by the State Government on loans to employees is lesser than the prevailing market rate of bank loans.
“It was also observed that the beneficial rate at which the loan is provided to the employees is linked to the rate of interest applicable on public provident fund and is revised by the state government from time to time,” said the spokesman.
“The budgetary allocation made annually by the government does not suffice the need of all the employees. Therefore, there is discontent amongst the employees. To cater to the need, the employees line-up to avail the discretionary quota of the finance minister allocated on year to year basis,” he informed.
The decision to shift the portfolio of the State Government to the banks would overcome the discontent amongst the employees as all of them would be able to avail this facility and amount of loan presently given would be available with the government for diversification towards the developmental works," added the spokesperson.
"Also, this shift would increase the clients of the banks and enhance their priority sector lending," said he.
There are over 2.74 lakh government employees, out of which only 24,507 employees have availed housing loan and 9,757 took vehicle loan. As many as 7,144 employees have taken computer loan and 16,887 have availed marriage loan from the government till March 31, 2014, the spokesman added.
Relief in VAT to traders due to Jat agitation
Haryana Government decided in principle to give relief in Value Added Tax (VAT) to those traders and businessmen who suffered losses during the recent Jat quota agitation in the state.
The state cabinet decided that the Excise and Taxation Department would formulate the modalities with regard to relief in VAT and other taxes, if any.
Cabinet Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that a decision has been taken to give relief in VAT to traders and businessmen who were affected during the Jat quota stir. Excise and taxation Department has been asked to examine the issue to decide how much relief can be given to the traders and businessmen, he said.Several parts of Haryana had witnessed large scale arson and violence during the Jat quota agitation. Several government buildings, private shops, malls, educational institutions, hospitals and showrooms were set on fire by the hooligans during the agitation while hundreds of shops were also looted.
UDAY approved
Ujawal Discoms Assurance Yojna (UDAY) aimed at reducing debt burden of Power Discoms, cutting down cost of power and losses to the level of 15 per cent in next three years and to financially turnaround the power distribution companies would be implemented in Haryana.
The State Government has decided to implement the scheme, formulated by the Union Ministry of Power. During the Cabinet meet, it was observed that out of Rs34,600 crores debt as on September 30, 2015, a sum of Rs25,950 crores would be taken over by the State Government. For this purpose, in lieu of loans taken from financial institutions by the Discoms, the State Government will issue bonds which would carry much lower rate of interest compared to the loans from the financial institutions. The total debt of Rs25,950 crores will be finally taken over by the State Government over a period of next five years, said an official spokesperson.Under the scheme, a detailed mechanism has also been stipulated by which the Discoms will take time bound action to reduce losses and improve their efficiency.
Recruitment rules amended
The State Government has decided to give one percent marks for each completed year of service in the recruitment or selection of class III posts in the Health Department, subject to a maximum of eight per cent. It would have a rider that the qualifying service should have been in any Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Health Mission (NHM) project or under any Health Department of any state government or the Central Government in the same capacity.
The Cabinet also decided that the above benefit would be granted towards experience to the candidates while making regular recruitments of class III posts in Health Department as was done in case of School Education Department. However, the marks for written test and interview shall remain 80 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
Haryana approves transfer of land
Haryana Government has approved the proposal of Gram Panchayat Sotai, Block Ballabgarh in Faridabad to gift a residential plot to the family of a soldier who was killed in an anti-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet has decided that 200 square yards will be gifted to Memwati, widow of Martyr Naik Raghuvir Singh, who attained martyrdom in 'Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir-2000'. The value of the said land is Rs70 lakh per acre.
Cabinet meet again to decide Assembly dates
With no decision on finalization of dates of upcoming budget session of Haryana Assembly on Wednesday, the state Cabinet will meet again on Thursday. The Cabinet is also likely to deliberate over the issue of introduction of a bill in the state assembly to give reservation to Jat community.