Eye on poll, Virbhadra lists sops

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 5

The Himachal Government today decided that medicines free of cost will be provided to all patients, irrespective of the income criteria under Indira Gandhi Free Medicines Scheme.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. The decision has been taken in larger public interest with a proposal to include more medicines and consumables in the free drug policy of the state government under its public health programme.

A budgetary provision of Rs 71 crore has been made available for this and 330 free medicines and consumables would be provided to patients under this scheme.

In yet another important decision taken with an eye on the Assembly elections, nod was given by the Cabinet to increase the honorarium of panchayat chowkidars from Rs 2,350 to Rs 3,050, an increase of Rs 700 per month in their monthly remuneration.

The Cabinet also decided that teachers appointed under PTA, whose services have not been taken on contract basis, may be allowed financial benefits, including annual increase as well as honorarium for vacation period. This was to be done on notional basis at par with their counterparts with effect from June 1, 2017.

The Cabinet also decided to grant retirement and death gratuity to New Pension System (NPS) employees from prospective date on terms and conditions as applicable to the employees covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 subject maximum limit of 25 years of qualifying services. The Cabinet gave approval to upgrade some Community Health Centres and many other health institutions.

It was also decided to upgrade many primary, middle and high government schools. The Cabinet approved filling of 110 vacant posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in Health and Family Welfare Department and 110 staff nurses for Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba. The Cabinet has decided to create 96 posts of foreman by upgrading the vacant posts of Pump Operators in Irrigation Department.

Key decisions

• Nod was given to increase the honorarium of panchayat chowkidars from Rs 2,350 to Rs 3,050.
• Teachers appointed under PTA, whose services have not been taken on contract basis, may be allowed financial benefits, including annual increase as well as honorarium for vacation period. 
• It has been decided to grant retirement and death gratuity to New Pension System (NPS) employees from prospective date.
• A decision has been taken to increase the cadre strength of Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services from 206 to 228

Tea estates sale issue not taken up

• The controversial proposal to allow some tea estate owners to sell land under tea gardens in Kangra could not be placed before the Cabinet. As Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Tarun Shridhar was on leave, the matter was not taken up.  
• Transport minister GS Bali questioned the move of HP Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board of distributing freebies like fans, cycles and washing machines to people. He demanded that the policy and guidelines for giving such benefits must be revealed. This led to heated exchanges between Bali and Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.