Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over Cabinet Meeting

A presentation was made in the Cabinet regarding steps taken for economic revival and economic reforms to be initiated by the State Government after lockdown.  It was decided that to revive the economy in the State in the wake of corona pandemic, 120 days assured employment would be provided to the urban populace under a new Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna. For this, if required, adequate training would be provided for their skill upgradation.

During this pandemic, thousands of people of the State have come back from other States having experience and expertise in various fields. They would be identified and trained accordingly to provide them employment and self-employment avenues. It was also decided that expenditure on development works would be expedited in the State.  However, the unproductive and wasteful expenditure would be curtailed.

The State Government had provided Rs.2000 each to about one lakh workers registered under Building and Other Construction Workers Board and for this Rs. 20 crore had been spent. Now the government decided to provide another Rs. 2000 each to these workers.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, agriculturists and horticulturists of the State have been facing huge losses. The farmers suffered huge losses as they were not able to market flowers and other exotic vegetables. Therefore, the Government had decided to compensate them to some extent. The Government was also endeavoring that it would provide all possible help to market their produce in the markets.

The tourism industry was worst affected due to this pandemic, Therefore, the Government had decided to waive off electricity demand charges for a period of six months thereby providing them relief of about Rs. 15 crore. Similarly, excise and taxation license fees would be waived off and lifting quota of bars would be on a pro-rata basis.

The government would also provide support to HPTDC by providing support to the Corporation for paying salaries of its employees. In addition to this, token tax and special road tax would be waived off for 4 months and no penalty would be imposed on owners of private vehicles on account of delay on renewal of registration and permits etc. Rs. 55 crore help would be provided to HRTC.

To support the industry, GST refunds would be made at the earliest. HPSEB Ltd. has also suffered due to less demand of the industry, thus it would be adequately compensated.

It was decided to constitute a Task Force headed by Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh to give suggestions for other remedial measures to be taken to revive the economy. The other members of this Sub Committee would be Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Industries Minister Vikram Singh and Transport Minister Govind Thakur, etc..

It was also decided that the State Government would also take up the matter regarding EPFO, ESIC at the appropriate level so that the same could be redressed at the earliest.

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The Cabinet decided to convert the part-time  Class-IV workers engaged in various departments (except the part-time water carriers in Education Department) who have completed eight years of continuous services as on 31st March 2020 and those would be completing their eight years of continuous services on 30th September 2020 as daily wagers.

It also decided to give post facto approval for the extension of Excise Policy, 2019-20 up to 31st May 2020, and operation of Excise Policy 2020-21 from 1st June 2020 to 31st May 2021.  The retail excise licensees would not be required to deposit any excise levies for the period liquor vends remained closed due to the COVID-19 lockdown after 22nd March 2020. The retail excise licensees will be allowed to lift the remaining Minimum Guaranteed Quota of 2019-20 if due, against the License fee deposited before 31st March 2020 and in case the complete License

Fee has not been deposited by 31st March 2020 then such excise licensees will be allowed to lift the pending quota against the deposition of the pending Excise License Fee for 2019-20 in the month of April/May 2020 whenever the vends are opened. If any, retail excise licensee lifts Country Liquor/IMF/Beer /Wine/Cider/BIO brands over and above the pending quota due of 2019-20, Excise Licensee will lift the same against the deposition of the prescribed levies as per the Excise Policy 2019-20.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to post-facto approval of an extension of Toll Policy 2019-20 up to 31st May 2020 and operation of Toll Policy 2020-21 from 1st June 2020 to 31st May 2021. The Toll Lessees will be allowed to deposit monthly toll fees for April and May 2020 on the basis of their actual collection of toll fees.

The Cabinet gave its consent to create and fill up one post of Professor and one post of Assistant Professor in Department of Pathology and two posts of Assistant Professors in the Department of Psychiatry in IGMC, Shimla on regular basis to facilitate the people.

The Cabinet gave its approval to grant a petroleum exploration license under Open Acreage Licensing Policy-Bid Round I in favor of M/s Vedanta Limited for petroleum exploration in Bali Chowki, Chachiot, Sarkaghat and Mandi area of Mandi district and Ghumarwin area of Bilaspur district.

It decided to create three posts of different categories in Primary Health Centre, Tharola in Kotkhai area of Shimla district to make it functional to facilitate the people of the area.

The Cabinet gave its consent to upgrade Government Middle School, Koon, Seraj in Mandi district and Government Middle School, Anhech in Solan district to Government High Schools and Government High Schools, Jadli and Sanawar to Government Senior Secondary Schools along with the creation of 20 posts of different categories to manage these schools.

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