By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 22 Jun: A cabinet meeting was held at the Secretariat here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In all, 12 proposals were approved in the cabinet meeting which was held after a gap of about three months. After the cabinet meeting was over, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli briefed the media regarding cabinet decisions. Among the major decisions taken by the cabinet was approval of the Uttarakhand Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill-2024, 33 percent reservation for women on the post of chairpersons and members in cooperative societies and creation of various posts in several departments.
Setting up of Uttarakhand Unified Metropolitical Transport Authority is ostensibly aimed at improving transportation facility in the cities of Uttarakhand. Now, prior permission will have to be taken from this authority to change or improve transportation facilities in the urban areas of the state. Regarding the promulgation of Uttarakhand Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill, 2024, the Cabinet agreed that there is a need for a bill for the management and control of the Uttarakhand Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority in the state. The draft of the bill has been prepared on the basis of the guidelines of MoHUA and the Act, 2019 of the Metropolitan Transport Authority of the State of Kerala to regulate the development, operation, maintenance, monitoring and supervision of urban transport in the state.
A proposal was approved to create more posts to ensure greater safety regarding the Electrical Safety Department under the Energy and Alternative Energy Department. As against the 65 posts that are approved in the Power and Alternate Energy Department for safety of electrical plants, 80 new posts will be created now, taking the total number of posts to 123 in this regard. This decision comes in the light of the sewer treatment plant accident that happened at Sewerage Plant in Chamoli on 20 July 2023. Creation of additional posts and reorganisation of the department is aimed at ensuring timely completion of the works of the Electrical Safety Department as mandated in the guidelines issued by the government.
The cabinet also approved a proposal regarding professional training course for finance officers selected through direct recruitment under Uttarakhand Finance Service. This has been approved ostensibly to ensure ‘simplification, solution, redressal and satisfaction’. This will also take care of professional training course and post promotion training course for the Finance Officer in the Secretariat and for PCS officers selected through direct recruitment under Uttarakhand Finance Service, to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities.
A proposal for amendment in Tourism Policy, 2018 was approved by the Cabinet today with the objective of promoting the development of tourism sector in Uttarakhand, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and promoting a single window system for the convenience of investors for tourism business. Under this amendment, a time limit of 10 years has been approved for reimbursement of 30, 50, 50 percent SGST in different categories of tourism projects.
The cabinet approved a proposal regarding creation of outsourced posts for running the mobile units Food Safety on Wheels for testing food items under the Department of Medical Health and Medical Education was approved by the Cabinet. Under the MoU between Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttarakhand, mobile food analysis laboratories (Food Safety on Wheels) are proposed to be operated with the financial support of the Government of India. In view of the above, 8 outsourced posts will be created to provide public awareness and training to the general public for testing food items.
Under Medical Health and Medical Education, a proposal regarding setting up of Food Analysis Laboratory in Dehradun for Garhwal region and creation of related posts for the analysis laboratory was approved by the Cabinet. It may be recalled that a similar laboratory already exists in Rudrapur which will now function for Kumaon region. For the laboratory to be set up in Dehradun, 13 posts will be sanctioned.
The Cabinet also decided to introduce facility of Corporate Salary Account / Package and accidental benefits with respect to the salary accounts of the employees of the State Government. Under this, the Cabinet approved the proposal for signing contracts with State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Canara Bank in the first phase to provide the benefit of Corporate Salary Package to the State employees of Uttarakhand, who are paid salary through various notified commercial banks by the treasury.
The cabinet also approved a proposal for adoption of the rules of the Personnel Department regarding centralised and decentralised services in the ministerial class cadre in various authorities of the state under the Housing Department and appointment of the appointing authority.
One important decision taken is approval of the proposal to relax or exempt the application of the Procurement Rules, 2017 (as amended from time to time) for payment of the amount spent by the concerned firm/institution in organising the regional conference organised on 6 and 7 April, 2024 in Dehradun district on the matters of Family Courts in collaboration with the Supreme Court and the High Court of Uttarakhand, Nainital.
The Cabinet also approved a policy decision to displace the families residing in the premises for planned development of Mahasu Devta under the Master Plan in Dehradun district. The government has claimed that this displacement will be done in consent with the families living in the temple complex and these families will be compensated adequately. In all, 26 families will be affected by this project.
The cabinet also decided to promulgate the Consolidation Rules-2024 in respect of the Uttarakhand Medical Service Selection Board Ministerial Cadre posts and to increase the superannuation age of specialist doctors to 65 years and will cover allopathic, dental, AYUSH, Homoeopathic and Unani medical services.
