U’khand Cabinet grants approval to 22 proposals
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 11 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat here today. The meeting lasted for about three hours, during which 22 proposals were approved. After the meeting, Secretaries R Meenakshi Sundaram and Shailesh Bagoli among others briefed the media regarding the decisions taken by the Cabinet.
One of the major decisions was related to the proposal for subsidy being given to electricity consumers. The cabinet formally approved the subsidy but with several conditions. During the meeting, it was discussed that several consumers have been found to have applied for power connections under different family members’ names in order to obtain higher subsidy. It was decided by the cabinet that, in such cases, a penalty amounting to double the subsidy would be imposed on the consumers concerned. Regarding the proposal on the subsidy, it was also decided that the district magistrates will issue a notification for high Himalayan areas. In line with the Chief Minister’s announcement on 16 September 2024, a 50 percent subsidy in electricity rates (energy charge) will be provided to domestic category electricity consumers in snow-covered areas with monthly consumption of up to 200 units. For consumers from the rest of the state with contracted electricity load up to 1 kilowatt and monthly consumption up to 100 units, subsidy would be granted.
The cabinet also approved an amendment to the Uttarakhand Housing Policy, providing stamp duty exemption. It was pointed out that the Uttarakhand Housing Policy 2017 aims to provide safe and permanent housing to residents within the state and affordable housing to eligible sections covered under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. The Uttarakhand Housing Policy Rules 2018 facilitate the implementation of the Housing Policy, addressing shortcomings and promoting the development of the housing sector.
In addition, the Cabinet also approved a Uniform Allowance of Rs 3,000 per year for vehicle drivers other than those deputed at the Secretariat. The Cabinet also approved grant of financial authority to the Chairperson of the Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission as Head of Department.
In another important decision concerning government employees, the cabinet today approved a notional increment for employees retiring on 30 June or 31 December for pension calculation.
The cabinet also approved amendments in the government order issued for providing shelter to stray cows in the state of Uttarakhand. It is worth reminding here that, as per the provisions of the 11th and 12th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, construction of cow shelters in urban areas and providing necessary facilities related to it comes under the purview of the Urban Development Department, while construction of cow shelters in rural areas and providing necessary facilities related to it comes under the purview of the Panchayati Raj Department. All the medical facilities related to the maintenance and treatment of destitute cows sheltered in all the registered cow shelters of the state are provided by the Animal Husbandry Department. It has been decided that the establishment of Gaushalas for destitute cattle within the urban periphery and related necessary facilities will be provided by the Urban Development Department as before and establishment of Gaushalas for destitute cattle outside the urban periphery and related necessary facilities will be provided by the Panchayati Raj Department in line with the Constitutional provisions.
The Cabinet also approved amendments in the recruitment scheme for specialist doctors in the state.
In another important decision, the Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation regarding purchase of 100 new buses, with the state government bearing the interest on the loan.
The cabinet also accorded approval to an amendment in the State Cooperative Committee Election Amendment Rules, granting voting rights to women. The cabinet also approved a proposal to allow name change for gender change under the School Education Rules of the Secondary Education Department. The cabinet also approved the Sports University Ordinance.
The cabinet also approved a proposal to set up a Transgender Person Welfare Board.
The cabinet also approved a hike in the support price of C-grade apples and pears cultivated in the state. Dhami Government approved rules for the appointment of Anganwadi workers and assistants. Besides this, the cabinet approved implementation of uniform user charges in all the government medical colleges and affiliated hospitals across the state. The cabinet approved a proposal for inclusion of Sayala caste in Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
