With Assembly polls in mind and less than a year away, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav doled out sops to government employees by jacking up House Rent Allowance (HRA) and making the packages to King George Medical College non-teaching employees at par with that oftheir countereparts at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.
These decisions, among others, were taken by the UP cabinet meeting which was chaired by the CM in lucknow on Monday morning.
The cabinet approved an increase of 20 per cent in HRA for state employees from August 1. Now the minimum HRA will be Rs 360 per month and the maximum Rs 12,600 per month. Similarly, non-teaching staff of the KGMU would now get a salary equal to that of SGPGI staff.
Besides, award money given to artisans under RsDr Ram Manohar lohia Special Handicrafts Award Scheme’ for promotion of handicrafts has also been hiked to Rs 35000 and Rs 25000 respectively.
The retirement age of employees of UP Minority Finance and Development Corporation has been increased from 58 years to 60 years. The Cabinet effected minor changes in the encashment of leaves for employees who faced suspension or other departmental enquiry.
Contrary to earlier provisions, where competent officer was empowered to give full encashment on retirement on finding that an employee was unnecessarily harassed, now if an employee retires during an ongoing enquiry, then the officer could ensure encashment after slashing the amount which might be realised from the officer if the staff is found guilty in the enquiry.
It was also decided to implement an Advance Traffic Management System (ATMS) facility to make the lucknow-Agra Expressway mishap free.
The Cabinet also have its nod to increasing the production of state-run Mohiuddinpur Sugar Mill from 2500 TCD to 3500 TCD besides installation of 15 megawatt co-generation plan in the mill.
It also approved 1.62 hectare land for UP Institute of Designing in Bijnore locality of Sarojninagar in lucknow. The institute comes under RsKushal Vikas Yojna’ (Skilled Development Programme).
To improve implementation of traffic rules, the government not just increased fines but also empowered the cops of the rank of head constables to exact compounding fine.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to RsUP small and medium industries interest policy’ to facilitate setting-up of industries in backward areas. Industries set up under this in Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions will get 7 per cent rebate (upto Rs 3 lakh) for five years on installation of plant and machineries. The rebate in Madhyanchal region will be 5 per cent.
The government also made it compulsory for purchase of Khadi clothes in government departments. It also cleared revised O-level Computer Training Scheme-2007 run by Bachward Welfare Department. Those coming under the Rs 1 lakh annual salary slab -both in urban and rural areas, were now entitled to get Rs 10,000 to Rs 15000 for computer training.
The other major decisions taken were the construction of a modern slaughter house in lucknow, waiving of VAT and all other taxes on Electric Cremation House in Dadri and Auraiya, construction of transmission system in Ghatampur Power Plant, CUG facilities to all drivers of state Secretariat, construction of Skills Institute in Trans-Ganga city in Unnao, managing Tourism Guest Houses by giving lease, revised policy on Assembly constituency development fund, introduction of e-system payment for stamp and tegistration fees and relaxation in rules meant for distribution of free e-rickshaws to women.