Punjab Cabinet Approves Additional 12,747 Posts Of Different Categories In Six Departments

Chandigarh, April 30, 2016: The Punjab Cabinet today gave approval to fill additional 12,747 posts of different cadres of six departments in the state.
This decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal here at Punjab Bhawan this afternoon.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that these posts of different cadres of Group A, B, C & D in six departments namely; Home Affairs & Justice, Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, Irrigation, Cooperation, Planning and Technical Education & Industrial training would be filled soon. It may be recalled that the Cabinet had already given approval to fill 1,13,766 vacant posts in 41 departments as per the information furnished at that point of time. The new recruits will be paid basic pay drawn on the day of appointment for three years. Thereafter, they will draw full salary and allowances as admissible in the relevant service rules.
Likewise, the Cabinet also gave clearance for the creation of eight additional posts of Under Secretaries and one post of Superintendent in Punjab Civil Secretariat.
The Cabinet also gave approval to fill 133 posts of Medical Laboratory Technician (Grade-2), 7 posts of TB Health Visitors, 29 posts of Ophthalmic Officer, 1301 posts of Multipurpose Health Worker (F), 1263 posts of Multipurpose Health Worker (M), 51 posts of Block Extension Educator, 109 posts of Radiographer, 128 posts of Operation Theatre Assistant, 33 posts of Electrographer, 2 posts of Assistant Dieticians and 5 posts of Dental Hygienist by taking out these posts from the purview of Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board. The Cabinet decided to entrust the task of filling these posts to the Baba Farid Health Sciences University, Faridkot on the basis of only written test and without any interview.
Similarly, the Cabinet also gave go ahead to fill 248 posts of Medical Officers (MBBS) out of 316 vacant posts of Medical Officers (Specialists) through Baba Farid Health Sciences University, Faridkot after conducting written test and without any interview by taking these posts out of purview of PPSC.
The Cabinet also gave green signal to fill 210 vacant posts of Junior Engineers in Water Supply and Sanitation department under direct recruitment quota through an independent organization on the basis of merit in written test.
The Cabinet also accorded ex-post facto approval to fill the post of Director & Warden of Fisheries on contract basis. This decision has been taken due to non-availability of any eligible officer fulfilling the requisite qualifications/experience for the said post in the department.
In a significant decision, the Cabinet decided to recast combined seniority of Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs), Sub Inspectors (SIs) and Inspectors of district Police and PAP. In order to avoid the reversions and protection of pay of employees of Armed Battalions, this decision would result in creation of 64 Ex-Cadre posts for the General Duty (Armed Battalions) Officials/Officers up till their promotions in the next rank in order to keep them on their actual place in the seniority list and for having further promotions accordingly. Similarly, creation of 41 dying cadre posts for the Sportspersons, in additions to the sanctioned posts, which shall be eliminated automatically upon their promotion on the next rank and this process will goes on up to the level of SP was approved. Their seniority will be determined as per dates of their present promotions.
The Cabinet also decided to increase the quota of government houses for accredited press correspondents from 10 houses to 15, which will include 3 houses of category IX and 5 of category VIII by amending the Rule 7-A of the Punjab Government House (General Pool) Allotment Rules 1983.
The Cabinet also gave approval to transfer the sale proceeds of Rs.17.35 crore to Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mill received from the sale of 12.6875 acres land of Sugarfed to Housefed. The Cabinet earlier in its meeting on February 25, 2016 had decided to transfer Rs.10 crore for its modernization of Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mill. These funds will be utilized for enhancing capacity of Bhogpur Cooperative Sugar Mill from 1016 Tonne Capacity per Day (TCD) to 3000 TCD.
The Cabinet decided to authorize Ex-MP/Ex-MLA/MP/MLA/Chairman and Members of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Sammiti or Sarpanch of Village to attest/recommend a person who has taken part in one of the Morchas during emergency for grant of financial assistance. It may be recalled that the Sangharshi Yodhas would get financial assistance of Rs.1000/- per month and other facilities, who participated in Morchas during Emergency (26.06.1975 to 21.03.1977) and Punjabi Suba (1955-1965). The Deputy Commissioners of the State are empowered to implement this scheme and district level committees are constituted for the identification of such Yodhas. In urban areas such recommendations will be made by Mayor/Councillors of local bodies.
The Cabinet also approved to transfer 6.18 acres land of Improvement Trust, Roopnagar to the Transport Department for the construction of new Bus Stand at Roopnagar in lieu of which, PUDA would construct Administrative block and Workshop for Punjab Roadways, Roopnagar from its own resources/funds.
To ensure better efficiency in the functioning of Punjab Jails and attract the best talent amongst the cadre of warders, the Cabinet also gave approval to amend Sub Rule (7) of Rule 7 of Punjab Jails Department State Service (Class-III Executive), Rules 1963. Now the warders will be recruited directly.
The Cabinet also approved the repealing of Punjab Jail Canteen Management Rules, 1965 and approved New Punjab Jail Canteen Rules, 2016 for better functioning of Jail Canteens by introducing e-purse cards for purchase of goods from jail canteens instead of coupons.
The Cabinet also gave approval to a scheme for roping in a private player for renovated historical Gobindgarh Fort at Amritsar on PPP mode for operation, maintenance and running laser shows for eight years. The Punjab Heritage Tourism Promotion Board would receive annual concession fee. The entry for general public would be free once in a week.
The Cabinet also decided to give last chance to the employees and pensioners, who have not yet got themselves registered under Cashless Health Insurance Scheme to register themselves uptill June 30, 2016. It was decided that for the period before their registration they would be covered under the old Government policy and Medical Attendance Rules 1940 for reimbursement of medical bills.
The Cabinet also gave approval to hire 50 video vans to the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) to generate awareness amongst the masses about the rich historical and cultural heritage of Punjab and welfare schemes initiated by the State government. It was also proposed to engage 125 feedback officers to analyze and communicate various government schemes, programmes and policies across the state by establishing Call Centres with IVRS facilities on outsource basis by the DPROs through outsourcing agencies.
The Cabinet also approved the Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats (Group A) Technical Service Rules, 2016.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to transfer free of cost 60 acres of land in villages Rakhchhita and Nijjarpura, in Amritsar District to IIM society, Amritsar to establish Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Amritsar.
The Cabinet expressed its commitment to create required housing stock for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) by amending the relevant policy. Under the policy, 10% of the flats constructed under group housing project and 5% of the gross area under other mega/papra housing projects are earmarked for EWS. The Cabinet decided that in non-group housing projects the 5% area, if not constructed and offered by the developer to the EWS would be taken over by the department. The government may use this area for commercial/residential purposes and sale proceeds thereof would be put into a fund which could be utilized by the government for creation of housing stock for EWS anywhere in the state. In case of group housing scheme, the developer can either transfer 10% flats to EWS or can deposit the price of such flats as determined by the government in that fund for utilization by the government for the same purpose in the state.
To avoid stagnation in the cadre of constables in Police Department, the Cabinet approved to designate a Constable as Head Constable (PR) on completion of 16 years of his regular service. It may be recalled that a constable is designated as senior constable on completion of eight years of his regular service.
The Cabinet also decided to enhance the upper age limit for recruitment of Constable and Sub-inspector in Police from 25 to 28 years.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to the amendment in Rules of old-age pension and other financial assistance schemes carried out by the Social Security Department, in which now Aadhar Card in place of Ration card would be another document of identity or proof of residence for the entitlement of pension and other financial assistance schemes. The application forms could be recommended by Sarpanch & one member of panchayat or one Nambardar & one member Panchayat or two members of panchayat or Chairperson/Member Block Samiti & one member of Panchayat or Chairperson/Member, Zila Parishad & one member of panchayat. In urban areas such recommendation could be made by any councilor in the concerned local bodies. The application forms so recommended would be received in the office of SDM. The SDM would immediately give provisional sanction and the applicant would start getting pension. The District Social Security Officer (DSSO) would verify such provisionally approved cases within a month. If a beneficiary is found to be ineligible, the Authority who recommended its case would be liable to pay double the amount received by the beneficiary.The Committee under the chairmanship of ADC (Development) constituted for the verification of old-aged pension cases will be abolished. The DSSO would deposit the pension in the bank accounts of the Panchayats by 10th of every month. Concerned Sarpanch would ensure disbursement of pension to the beneficiaries from 10th to 17th of every month.
The Cabinet also gave approval for the creation of 176 vacancies of Sadar Kanungo, Naib Sadar Kanungo, Bill Clerks, Office Kanungo and Assistant Kanungo in 8 new districts and 34 Tehsils/Sub-Tehsils Offices.
The Cabinet also decided to do away with a committee set up to resolve pending cases related to mega projects under chairmanship of Chief Secretary. Now onwards, all such cases would be looked into and resolved by the concerned departments.
The Cabinet also decided to amend Standing Order No.28 of the Revenue department for negotiate purchase of land in view of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The Cabinet also decided that the agriculture department would start a vigorous campaign for informing the disadvantages of sowing 1509 variety of Basmati as the same is not purchased by the FCI.
The Cabinet further decided that monitoring of all insurance schemes recently introduced by the government through one senior dedicated officer in the health department.
In view of the complaints regarding exorbitant fee charged by the private schools, the Cabinet directed the school education department to put some effective mechanism in place which must regulate fee and other levies charged by these schools.
The Cabinet also decided that henceforth no objection certificate required for release of residential electricity connections will no more be needed.