HP Cabinet Decisions: Shops from 9 am to 5 pm from 14th June with Saturday and Sunday to remain closed

Shimla/Dharamsala: A Marathon Meeting of the State Cabinet held in Shimla  today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the State. 
The Cabinet decided to increase the timing of opening of shops from 9 am to 5 pm from 14th June with Saturday and Sunday to remain closed. It was decided that offices would function with 50 percent of staff, with staff strength of 75 and above from 14th June. All the medical colleges, ayurvedic colleges and dental colleges would remain open from 23rd June. Pharmacy and nursing schools to open from 28th June. Intrastate public transport would be allowed with 50 percent occupancy. Section 144 was lifted and no requirement of RTPCR tests for entering in the State. Corona curfew to continue from 5pm to 5am
The Cabinet provided a relief of about Rs 40 crore to the transport sector one of the worst hit sector by the pandemic which include an Interest Subvention Scheme on working capital for stage carriage operators, under which a loan amount of Rs 2 lakh per bus and maximum amount up to Rs 20 lakh would be provided to the bus operators as working capital.  The duration of the loan would be 5 years, in which one year would be of moratorium period, there would be 75 percent interest subvention, which would be paid by the state government.  In the second year, there would be an interest subvention of 50 percent on interest which would be borne by the state government.  About Rs. 11 crore relief has been provided by the government on this scheme. 
The Cabinet also provided much needed relief to Stage Carriage, Taxi, Maxi, Autorickshaw and Institution Buses by giving the relief of 50 percent on payment of Special Road Tax and Token from 1st August, 2020 to 31st March, 2021.  The Transport sector would get relief of about Rs. 20 crore due to this decision. 
It also decided to provide 50 percent relief on Special Road Tax and Token Tax during the period of three months from 1st April, 2021 to 30th June, 2021.  This decision would provide relief of Rs. 8 crore to stage carriages, taxis, maxi, autorickshaws, contract carriage buses and institution buses.  This relief provided by the government to the transport sector during the critical period of Corona would benefit all the people of the State and would also prove to be a big help for the transport sector. 
The Cabinet directed the Jal Shakti Department to go ahead for filling up 2322 posts of different categories under Departmental Para Workers Policy to effectively manage 486 drinking water and 31 irrigation schemes in the State.
The Cabinet also decided to create and fill up 401 posts of different categories in Trauma/Tertiary Care Centre in IGMC and Super Specialty Block Chamiana of IGMC Shimla for its smooth functioning and to provide specialized health care facilities to the people of the State besides  328 posts of different categories on outsource basis.
The Cabinet decided to enhance the honorarium of all the categories of teachers appointed under SMC by Rs. 500 per month from 1st April, 2021.
The Cabinet also decided to increase the honorarium of Cook cum Helper under the Mid-Day Meal Yojna of the Elementary Education Department by Rs. 300 per month from 1st April, 2021.  
Keeping in view the covid-19 pandemic situation in the State, the Cabinet decided to conduct examinations of Graduate and Shastri final year during the month of July, 2021 as per SoPs issued by UGC. It also decided to hold the examinations of Graduate 1st and 2nd year after the final examinations are over. It also decided to start the academic session for the year 2021-22 for graduation classes from 1st week of August this year.
The Cabinet gave its nod to revised scheme for Interest Subvention on Working Capital Loan for Hospitality Industry  with a view to ensure that Tourism Unit operators could get easier access to working capital at interest rates lower than the prevailing market rates. The revised scheme provides for interest subversion of 75percent in the first year and payment period has also been increased to five years. Some other categories like ropeway and travel agents have also been included in the new scheme.
The Cabinet decided to include the families under National Food Security Act (Priority Households Category) where death occurred due to Covid pandemic. The guidelines for identification of Priority Households under National Food Security Act, 2013 issued on 1st August, 2013 would be relaxed to give them immediate relief and such families would immediately be included by Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies under National Food Security Act (PHH category) by simply getting Covid death certificates of such persons who died due to Corona.
The Cabinet gave its approval to make necessary amendments in Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojna 2019 to include Service enterprises and related goods carriers can be combined as composite related activities. It also envisages increasing the maximum investment ceiling of Rs. 60 lakh in plant and machinery with total cost project not exceeding Rs. 100 lakh in place of existing Rs. 40 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh respectively. It also allowed to increase interest subsidy at the rate of five percent for three years on loan amount upto Rs. 60 lakh instead of Rs. 40 lakh. This would facilitate youth to take maximum benefits from this Yojna.
It gave its consent to reopen Primary School at village Khadun in Gram Panchayat Sidhpur in Education Block Dharampur-II in Dharampur Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district to facilitate the children of the area.
It also decided to fill up four posts of Mining Guards on contract basis in Geological Wing of Industries Department through direct recruitment.
The Cabinet gave its approval to fill up three posts of Inspector, grade-I in Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department on contract basis for better functioning of the department.
It decided to start science classes in Government Senior Secondary School Mera Masit in Balh Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district along with creation of three posts of different categories to facilitate the students.
It also gave its nod to start science classes in Government Senior Secondary School Baggi and Government Senior Secondary School Ather in Dalhousie Vidhan Sabha area of Chamba district to facilitate the students of the area.
The Cabinet decided to take over the Shri Saraswati Sanskrit Degree College Dangar, tehsil Ghumarwin of Bilaspur district under government control.
It also decided to fill up seven posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) in Himachal Pradesh Election Department on contract basis through direct recruitment. 
It also decided to fill up two posts of drivers on daily wage basis in Deputy Commissioner Office Chamba.
The Cabinet also decided to fill up two posts of class-IV employees on daily wage basis in Himachal Pradesh Revenue Training Institute Jogindernagar in Mandi district.
The Cabinet also decided to construct a new Rest House at Shillonbag in district Shimla to facilitate the public.
It also decided to upgrade Primary Health Centre Thunag in Mandi district to Community Health Centre alongwith creation and filling up of three posts of different categories to man this Centre.
It also decided to create and fill up one post of Reader cum Associate Professor in Sister Nivedita Government Nursing College, Shimla.
It also decided to create and fill up one post of Medical Superintendent in 200 bedded Civil Hospital Nurpur in Kangra district for its effective functioning.
The Cabinet decided to grant ex post facto permission to set up/ operationalize Makeshift Hospitals at Pandoga in district Una (200 bedded) Radha Soami Satsang at Parour in Palampur (500 bedded), Radha Soami Satsang at Khaliar in Mandi district and Radha Soami Satsang at Anji in Solan district (200 bedded) in public interest. It also decided to provide 60 staff nurses, six ward sisters, 30 ward boys, 20 sweepers, 15 security personnel, 10 housekeeping persons and five DEOs each through an outsource basis.
The Cabinet also decided to upgrade Veterinary Dispensary, Sihund in Kangra district to Veterinary Hospital alongwith creation and filling up of three posts for its smooth functioning.
The Cabinet gave its approval to declare District level Janmashtami Fair Nurpur in Kangra district as State level Fair.
It also decided to increase the amount of grant in aid given to different fairs declared as International, National and State level Fairs to celebrate them in a befitting manner.
The Cabinet gave its approval to create one post of Deputy Controller Finance and Accounts in the office of Chief Engineer HPPWD Hamirpur zone.
It also decided to create one post each of Junior Office Assistant (IT) and Class-IV in the newly created Sub Divisional Election Office at Gagret in Una district. The post of Junior Office Assistant (IT) would be filled up on contract basis whereas the Class-IV post would be filled up on daily wage basis.