Himachal Pradesh schools will charge only tuition fee: Cabinet

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Saturday decided that in view of the lockdown due to outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic , the private schools of state would be allowed to charge only tuition fee.

The cabinet decided to establish three Fast Track Special Courts at Shimla, Rampur for Kinnaur district and at Nahan in Sirmaur district to deal with the rape and POCSO cases for a period of one year.

Amongst other items discussed, it was decided to implement the recommendations of 15th Central Finance Commission in the State, under which out of total grants received from it, 70 percent would be provided to Gram Panchyats, 15 percent to Panchayat Samitis and 15 percent would be allocated to Zila Parishads for undertaking various developmental works.

Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided to transfer land in favour of Union Ministry of Defence for the establishment of ECHS Polyclinic and ESM, CSD Canteen at Dehra Gopipur in Kangra district free of cost to facilitate the ex-servicemen and army personnel of the State.

Decision was also taken to levy transfer fee at the time of issue of permits under L-19 A licenses from local distilleries (D-2) located within the State for procurement of all kinds of spirits that is Ethyl Alcohol, ethanol, rectified spirits, ENA and absolute alcohol used in manufacture of sanitizers at the rate of Rs. 4.50 per bulk litre. This would give an additional revenue of about Rs. five crore to the State exchequer.

It also gave its consent to levy license fee for Bar licenses L-3, L-4, L-5, L-4 and L-5 and L-4A and L-5A and Minimum Guarantee Quota on pro-rata basis for the year 2020-21. It was decided to upgrade Veterinary Hospital at Nagrota Bagwan in Kangra district to Zonal Veterinary Hospital alongwith creation and filling up of seven posts of different categories to man this hospital.

Nod was given to amend the ‘Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojna-2019’ to make it more lucrative. Now units sanctioned under this scheme should come into commercial production within one year from the date of disbursement of first installment of loan by bank under the Scheme for both manufacturing and service enterprises. Besides, in case such units have been set up by widows who are bonafide Himachali and having age upto 45 years, amount of eligible subsidy has been enhanced from 30 percent to 35 percent.

It gave its nod to start scheme for ‘Rehabilitation of Stray Cattle’ in Himachal Pradesh to solve the problems of stray cattle, encourage individuals and organizations to adopt stray cattle, provide assistance for running of cow sanctuaries and gau sadans in the State. In the initial phase, it was decided to provide Rs 500 per cow for cows in gausadans, gaushalas and cow sanctuaries. Animal Husbandry Department was advised to complete tagging under Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) Scheme as per Government of India’s guidelines at the earliest.

In order to achieve transparency, accuracy and efficiency in the payment and accounting process for works transactions and to eliminate delays in pairing of payment and receipt instruments, Cabinet gave its nod to complete shifting of works transactions of Jal Shakti Department and Public Works Department to Treasury Mode by abolishing the LOC system from July 1.

Cabinet gave its consent to extend the period of four Special Land Acquisition Units (SLAUs) for further period of one year with effect from March this year to February 28 next year alongwith permission to continue with staff already engaged. These include SLAUs, Bilaspur, Pandoh-I, Pandoh-II and Shahpur for acquisition of land for construction of four laning projects of Kiratpur-Bilaspur-Nerchowk-Pandoh, Pandoh-Takoli, Takoli-Kullu-Manali and Pathankot-Chakki-Mandi respectively.

It also gave its approval for extension of Special Land Acquisition Unit (SLAU), Nalagarh for further one year from March 1 to December 31 this year for acquiring land for four laning of NH-21A Baddi-Nalagarh-Swarghat.

It gave its nod to provide NOC in favour of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Degree College and Hospital, Ner Chowk district Mandi for increasing B.Sc. nursing seats from existing 40 to 60 seats.

Cabinet gave its approval to create and fill up one post of Assistant Professor in Radiology and Gastroenterology in IGMC Shimla and one post each of Assistant Professor Anatomy and Pediatrics Department in Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda.