ByARUN PRATAP SINGH
Dehradun, 13 Nov: A cabinet meeting was held at the Secretariat here today chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. Among the important decisions taken today by the Cabinet was its approval of the new policy to promote start-ups in the state. As per the decision taken, start-ups set up by investors from outside Uttarakhand would also get the benefit of financial incentives announced by the state government. Under the new policy, the turnover limit for incentives has also been raised from Rs 25 crores to Rs 100 crores. In addition, companies set up during the past ten years will also be eligible for registration among the start-ups. Start-ups approved by the Centre would also be eligible for the incentives of the state government. The incentives however would be applicable only if the start-ups employ at least 50 percent of their work force from Uttarakhand.
Other decisions taken by the cabinet today include amendment of the Higher Education Services Manual, constitution of a sub-committee headed by Forest Minister Harak Singh to study amendments to the Indian Forest Act 1927, raising the grants given for setting up community radio stations from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakhs and amendment of the Trade Unions Act, 1926.
The Cabinet has decided to amend the Higher Education Services Manual and, under the new rules, the Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar would now be appointed under the Central Service Rules. This, in other words, means that Universities will have no role left to play in appointments to these posts and that the posts of registrars or deputy registrars will now be transferrable from one university to another. It remains to be seen if the registrars of technical, medical and agriculture universities will also be appointed under this central service rule, as they have separate acts under which they were established and function. Also, they are not governed by the Higher Education Department.
Under the amendment rules of the Indian Forest Act 1927, the cabinet today constituted a sub-committee to be chaired by Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and in which Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal, Education Minister Arvind Pandey have been nominated as members. This sub-committee will submit its report within 15 days.
Service charge will not be levied on the travel allowance paid to outsourced personnel working for the government, as GST has replaced service charge. The Integrated Safety Programme will be made under High Earthquake Reduction Programme.
The Labour Contracts Act 1970, too, has been amended. The Cabinet also decided to grant non-practicing allowance to Ayush doctors with effect from January, 2017. This was a long pending demand of Ayush doctors working for the state government.
A new stone crusher policy has been approved under which stone crushing and hot mix plant licences will only be granted to those having mining leases in their names. The Uttarakhand Agricultural Produce Market Act 2019 (APMC) will be amended under which 10 percent contribution will be charged from the boards and mandis in place of revival fund. The cabinet also approved the Uttarakhand Organic Agriculture Act Bill which is now expected to be tabled in the state assembly next month.
Under the proposed amendment to the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition Act, land can now be leased for agriculture, horticulture, plantation and fisheries for up to 30 years.
