The State Government has provided itself cushion against volatility in petroleum product prices i.e. petrol and diesel. The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to set a ceiling for the Value Added Tax (VAT) in monetary terms without altering with the rate, 22 per cent.
After getting notified, the VAT would be 22 per cent or Rs15 per litre for petrol while for diesel it would be 22 per cent or Rs12.50 per litre, whichever is higher. "The rate of VAT would be levied with the formula that fluctuation in the prices does not affect the revenue coming to the State. In any case, VAT on petrol would not be below Rs15 per litre and on diesel not less than Rs12.50 per litre. However, if more revenue is realised by levying 22 per cent then that amount per litre would be the revenue," said a senior official of Commercial Tax Department following the Cabinet meeting.
However, Personnel Department Secretary Ratan Kumar while briefing the media, clarified that the method of VAT calculation despite being altered with would be in conformity with the states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. "The revision in the VAT rules has been done after conducting comparative study of neighbouring States. It is aimed to save the exchequer from volatility which is being seen in oil market," he said. The Government also pumped in additional Rs337.52 crore in addition to Rs55 crore sanctioned for building new Core Capital Area for the FY 2015-16. The amount would take the total fund available up to Rs392.52 crore.
The Cabinet also revised its surrender policy for leftwing Naxals. Under the amended provisions, now highly placed cadres of the rank of secretary and member of the central committee or politburo would be paid Rs 1 crore after surrendering before the police instead of Rs 25,000 lakh now.
"The Cabinet has also decided to deal with rampant cases of malnutrition among newborns and lactating mothers in the State by setting up Jharkhand Nutrition Mission.
It would be a registered autonomous body which would be headed by the Chief Minister. It would work for bettering infrastructure and improving upon the indices related to nutrition by running programmes through committees at State, district and block levels," said Ratan Kumar.
As per a survey conducted in 2012-13, around eight lakh children born in Jharkhand every year out of which 29,000 do not survive to see their first birth day. Also 2.25 lakh of those survived remain underweight.
Also, the Cabinet okayed the rectifications suggested in the Civil Services Examination conducted by the JPSC. "In the light of the Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, the Cabinet has withdrawn second paper CSAT from 6th and onwards exams conducted for preliminary test by the JPSC. Now, the PT exam would be of just one paper which is General Studies," said the Secretary.
Along with this, upper age limit would be calculated based on August 1, 2010 while lower age limit from August 1, 2015 to accommodate more number of applicants considering irregular examinations being conducted so far. The Cabinet also removed bar on attempts and minimum qualifying marks set for interview for all category aspirants.
For supplying free flow iodised salt to all BPl, Additional BPl and Antyodaya families of the State, the Cabinet has nominated associated company of National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange ltd (NCDEX), NEMl. The company would supply the salt based on reverse auction process which would consume lesser time, has scope for rate correction and other benefits for the consumers as well as the Government.