The Uttarakhand Cabinet took several populist decisions yesterday, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections next year. These decisions included absorption of temporary employees, who have been demanding permanent jobs, non-practising allowance to Ayush doctors and increase in the state administered price (SAP) for sugarcane.
The adjustment of temporary employees is likely to benefit those designated as work charge (working mostly in Water Works Department), daily wage earners, contractual and ad hoc employees.
Chief Secretary S Ramaswamy, while announcing the decisions, said the Cabinet approved amendment to the Department of Personnel 2013 policy for employees. The policy states that the employees, who were given jobs in 2011, can be made permanent on the completion of five years of service.
Further, the Cabinet also approved the policy for the appointment of teachers for short tenure. This would benefit agitating guest teachers. It gave nod to amendments to other policies pertaining to the appointment of guest lecturers and language teachers.
The Cabinet approved non-practicing allowance for all Ayush doctors (allopathic, homeopathic and Unani). It would be 25 per cent of the grade pay and basic pay. The government would have to bear a cost of Rs 23 lakh per month for around 700 Ayush doctors. The government is already giving non-practicing allowance to allopathic doctors.
The Cabinet hiked the state administered price for sugarcane, which would be Rs 2 more than being paid by the Uttar Pradesh government. The government set Rs 317 per quintal for Agati variety and Rs 307 for the common variety. It also approved canteen (liquor) facilities for paramilitary forces personnel and their ex-servicemen.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved rehabilitation of people residing in Ward No. 7 in Nainital. They would be rehabilitated at Khurpatal where land has been earmarked. The monthly assistance being given to sportspersons every month for participating in the national and international events was also raised. Now, sportspersons participating in the Olympics would receive Rs 7,500 instead of Rs 1,000 and those who win a medal would receive Rs 10,000 per month.
The cabinet also approved reorgansiation of the Department of Industries and created new posts of Commissioner, Industries, and Director, Industries.
It raised by 5 per cent the annual salaries of contractual employees working under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme.
The Cabinet expressed dissatisfaction at the functioning of GVK Power company and asked the Chief Minister to take necessary action in the matter.