From this August, Punjab state exchequer will bear an additional burden of Rs 15 crore. Fulfilling one of its poll promises, the Punjab Government would launch the ambitious Dr Hargobind Khurana Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for meritorious students securing 80 per cent or more marks in matriculation exams.
The approval to launch the scheme was given by the State Cabinet during its meeting on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Dr Hargobind Khurana scholarship of Rs 30,000 annually for two-year senior secondary education was announced in 2013 State budget.
“The scheme would be applicable to all those Government and Adarsh schools run by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB),” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The scholarship would be given to the students through e-transfer in their bank accounts at the rate of Rs 2,500 per month. “The students, eligible for this scholarship, would be sent appreciation letters from the Chief Minister which would serve as a documentary proof for opening their bank accounts,” he added.
Under this scheme, there would be no cap of income and all those students studying in Government and Adarsh schools and secured 80 per cent or more marks would be entitled for this scholarship up to senior secondary level.
Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act amended to make it more stringent
Among other significant decisions, the State Cabinet also gave approval to issue notification by amending ‘The Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1955’. With this, Jalandhar’s Regional Disease Diagnostic laboratory (RDDl) has been accredited to test the meat so that the source animal is identified - a step expected to help in preventing cow slaughter. Till now, there was no statutory laboratory for testing meat or identifying the kind of slaughtered or killed animals.
SBS Nagar now part of Roopnagar division
Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar (Nawanshahr) district will now be the part of the newly-created Rupnagar division. The Cabinet’s nod would not only provide a great relief to the people of this area in getting their routine work done, but would also enhance the coordination between various administrative departments of the State Government. SBS Nagar was already the part of Ropar Police Range.
461 Inspectors to be recruited ‘directly’ in Food and Civil supplies dept
The Cabinet also put its stamp of approval to fill 461 posts of Inspectors in the Food and Civil Supplies Department through direct recruitment. The Cabinet has taken these posts out of Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB) purview.
Rs5l for 3 students from Punjab for scaling Mt Everest
Cabinet has decided to honour the three students from Punjab with a cash award of Rs 5 lakh each, who had successfully scaled Mount Everest - Prithvi Singh Chahal, Fateh Singh Brar and Haqikat Singh Grewal. The move is expected to help in promoting adventure sports amongst the youth.
SC sub-plan to be equivalent to SC population in State
Cabinet has decided to earmark funds equal to the percentage of the SC population of the State out of the total annual plan under the Schedule Castes Sub Plan (SCSP). Besides, it was decided to vest the control of beneficiary-oriented schemes included in budgeted SCSP to the Welfare department.
Panel headed by CS to examine rationalisation of VAT on petroleum products
To recommend rationalisation of rates of value added tax (VAT) on petroleum products and automobiles, the Cabinet has given its nod to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary. Besides, Financial Commissioner Revenue, Principal Secretary Finance, Principal Secretary Transport, Financial Commissioner Excise and Taxation and Taxation Commissioner Punjab would be its members.
Promoting tourism, conditions relaxed to set up new hospitals, hotels
To promote tourism in the State and benefit the general public, the Cabinet has approved to relax the conditions for setting up new hospitals, hotels and multimedia centres. Now, the minimum areas required for setting up these would be 1000 square metres.