The State Cabinet in its meeting held here today under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided to levy Additional License Fee (COVID Cess) on sale of liquor in the State.

Now Rs. 5 per bottle would be charged as COVID Cess on Country Liquor, Rs. 10 per bottle on IMFL, Rs. 5 per bottle/Can on Beer/RTD Indian Made, Rs. 25 per bottle on Foreign Imported Liquor (BIO), Rs. 10 per bottle/Can on Beer/RTD (BIO), Rs. 10 per bottle on Indian Wine/Cider and Rs. 25 per bottle on Wine/Cider (BIO).

The Cabinet also decided to hike import fee on all kinds of spirits used by the industries (L-19A licenses) for manufacturing all kind of sanitisation products from Rs. 10.50 per bulk litres to Rs. 15 per bulk litres.

The Cabinet Sub Committee constituted for post-COVID-19 Economic revival made a presentation before the Cabinet regarding its recommendations for expediting developmental works, mobilization of resources and possible support to different sectors.

The Sub Committee also recommended that returning Himachalis may be met for their skill assets and information must be shared with Labour and Employment and Industries Departments for their utilization in available sectors within the State.

It also suggested measures for the harvesting of agriculture and horticulture crops in the coming seasons.

The Cabinet Sub Committee also gave its recommendations on plugging revenue losses due to mining operations and for fast-tracking of forest clearances.

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Cabinet also gave its nod to increase the curfew relaxation to seven hours from five hours.

With a view to providing 120 days assured unskilled employment guarantee to every household of the Urban Local Bodies, enhance livelihood security in urban areas and to facilitate skill enhancement of persons engaged in waged labour jobs to set up their own enterprises by imparting skill training, subsidy linked to credit and entrepreneurship training.

Cabinet gave its consent to implement Mukhya Mantri Shahri Ajeevika Guarantee Yojna in the State. This would help to strengthen urban infrastructure and provisioning of quality civic amenities in Urban Local Bodies.  A sum of Rs. 25.20 crore is expected to be spent under this ambitious Yojna.

In order to boost the employability of youth of the Pradesh and enhance their employment prospective, the Cabinet gave its nod for the setting of Centre of Excellence at Waknaghat in Solan district under ADB funded programme as a specialised centre for high-end training in tourism and hospitality sectors as well as IT sector. This will provide the students of the Centre of Excellence with international perspectives, strengthen their Curriculum Vitae and improve their employment opportunities.

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