Chandigarh--- The Punjab Cabinet today approved the summoning of the 6th Session of 14th Vidhan Sabha from October 28 to November 1, 2013.A decision to this effect was taken here at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal in CMO this morning. Giving the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the session would commence on October 28 in the afternoon with obituary references. Legislative Business would be executed on October 29, 30 and November 1 while the Non official business would be conducted on October 31. The house would adjourn sine-die after the proposed legislative business onNovember 1, 2013.
The Cabinet also approved the arrangements for paddy procurement during Kharif Marketing Season 2013-14 which commenced on October 1, 2013. The Cabinet was apprised that the state agencies would procure 135 LMT (90%) and FCI 15 LMT (10%) during Kharif Marketing Season (KMF) 2013-14. The state agencies require 7.71 lakh new gunny bales for packaging of Paddy whereas 7.70 lakh new Gunny bales have been made available to all the state procuring agencies. Cash credit limit amounting to Rs 23600 crore has also been got sanctioned from the RBI for making payments to the farmers and Arthiyaas out of which Rs 17600 crore have already been received by the state government. Balance amount of Rs 6160 crore would also be received soon. Payments to the Arthiyaas and farmers would be made through swipe cards by the state agencies and the farmers have been given the options to receive the payments directly from the procuring agencies also. As many as 1795 purchase centers have been notified and allotted to the six procuring agencies as per their procurement shares by the government.
The Cabinet approved the enhancement of annual financial assistance (Jangi Jagir) from Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 with effect from June 28, 2013. It may be recalled that Rs 5000 was paid as War Jagir to the eligible beneficiaries since January 1, 2004. To effectively disseminate the policies and programs of the state government aimed at its overall development and welfare of the people at the grass root level, the Cabinet approved to engage the services of eminent TV/ Film personalities as brand ambassadors. These policies and programs would be aptly projected through advertisements in electronic and print media.
In order to help the farmers whose gardens/ orchards have been devastated by water logging and who want to convert them into Agro forestry, the Cabinet has decided that there would be no change in the presently applicable water allowance.
The Cabinet also approved the restructuring plan of the Co-operation department to streamline its functioning in an effective and result oriented manner. As a part of this exercise the Cabinet approved to create 97 new posts while abolishing 926 posts of various categories out of 2782 already approved posts, of which 1643 were lying vacant. After restructuring 1953 posts would be under regular head. Apart from this, it was recommended that 992 vacant posts of direct vacancies would be filled up in three phases viz. financial year 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.
he Cabinet also gave approval to appoint each family member of eight deceased farmers/ labourers, of Tarn Taran, Barnala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Bathinda districts, who died in various farmers' agitations across the state in group C and D on compassionate grounds against the vacant posts lying in the concerned Deputy Commissioner's offices.
In compliance with directions of Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Cabinet decided to enhance amount of compensation from Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakhs to the victims of rape and Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh in cases of murder with rape.
To ensure better Animal Health Services in the state as Animal Husbandry plays a vital role in state's economy having GDP of 13%, the Cabinet gave go ahead to recruit 175 Veterinary Inspectors through Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana instead of Punjab State Subordinate Services Selection Board. This decision would give a further boost to state's ambitious program of crop diversification.
In order to meet the expenditure incurred on the roads and connected infra structure required for plying of motor vehicles on roads, the Cabinet approved to impose a lump sum tax on various motor vehicles at the time of transfer of ownership under the Punjab Motor Vehicle Taxation Act 1924 (amended 2013). This move would result in an additional income of Rs 50 crore per annum.