Himachal Cabinet nod to new UGC pay scales for varsity, college staff

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 28

The state Cabinet today decided to revise the pay scales, as per the UGC guidelines, of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the universities and the colleges with effect from January 1, 2016, to March 31, 2022. This would put a burden of Rs 337 crore on the exchequer. It would also entail an expenditure of around Rs 113 crore for 2021-22.

The Cabinet that met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also decided to give six per cent subsidy on the purchase of packaging material sold through the HP Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) to apple growers with retrospective effect from July 15. It approved Rs 6 crore for the HPMC for providing subsidy to the apple growers, who had been resenting the steep rise in the cost of packaging material such as cartons and trays.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to reduce the minimum fare of government buses for first two kilometres from the existing Rs 7 to Rs 5. It also gave approval for converting 452 posts of ‘beldar’ in the Jal Shakti Department to pump operators and inducting Jal Rakshaks, who had completed 12 years or more of regular service on December 31, 2020, but did not meet educational qualifications.

The Cabinet approved increase in the rank allowance of Home Guards Department employees. Now, a Company Commander would get Rs 50 per day instead of Rs 30, Senior Platoon Commander/Platoon Commander Rs 40 instead of Rs 24, Havildar Rs 30 instead of Rs 18 and Section Leader Rs 20 instead of Rs 12.

A proposal to engage 780 ASHA workers under the National Health Mission and other programmes of the Health Department was also approved. The Cabinet also decided to create and fill 164 additional posts of various categories in the newly constructed 100-bed Mother and Child Care wing at Kamla Nehru State Hospital in Shimla, besides 54 posts in the HP Local Audit Department.

The Cabinet gave approval for declaring the Aryabhatta Geo Informatics and Space Application Centre as the nodal agency for the use of spatial and geo spatial technology in planning and development activities by various departments. It also approved the creation of Nurpur police district in Kangra district along with 39 posts of different categories. Besides, it decided to open new educational, health and administrative institutions and upgrade the existing ones.

780 ASHA workers to be hired

• The Cabinet approved conversion of 452 posts of ‘beldar’ in the Jal Shakti Department to pump operators
• 780 ASHA workers to be engaged under the National Health Mission and other programmes of the Health Department
• 164 posts to be created and filled in the 100-bed Mother and Child Care wing of Kamla Nehru State Hospital, Shimla
• Fare of government buses reduced from Rs 7 to Rs 5 for first 2 km
• Nurpur police district along with 39 posts approved

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#jai ram thakur #Shimla #University Grant Commission UGC