Punjab Cabinet okays doorstep delivery mechanism for atta and wheat beneficiaries
Punjab Cabinet decisions: The Punjab Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Saturday approved the implementation of model fair price shops under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) with the aim of delivering atta/wheat directly to the beneficiaries' doorsteps.
This initiative is intended to enhance the accessibility and availability of essential food items to those covered under the NFSA. A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers at a meeting under the chairmanship of the Punjab Chief Minister at the Punjab Civil Secretariat- I.
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said the Punjab Cabinet had given its approval for a revised mechanism to distribute packaged atta/wheat directly to the beneficiaries' doorsteps. Under this new approach, beneficiaries would have the option to receive atta/wheat in loose quantities, accurately weighed, either at the ration depots' counters or through special sealed packets delivered to their doorstep or the nearest accessible point by the ration depot holder. This method aims to provide a more dignified way for beneficiaries to receive these essential food items, eliminating the need to stand in long queues, particularly during unfavorable weather conditions.
All mandatory requirements of biometric verification, handing over of printed weight slip to the beneficiaries and others would be ensured while the delivery. The home delivery service would introduce the concept of model fair price shops, which would be run by 'The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd.', being the apex cooperative and preference provided under the NFS Act to cooperatives.
Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. run model fair price shops should also engage SMART Transport Services for supplying packaged wheat and atta at the doorstep of the beneficiary.
Nod to Crusher Policy 2023 to provide affordable sand and gravel to consumers
To ensure the availability of sand and gravel at affordable rates to consumers, the Punjab Cabinet has approved the implementation of the Punjab Crusher Policy 2023. Under this policy, there will be two main types of crusher units: Commercial Crusher Units (CCU) and Public Crusher Units (PCU). Additionally, screening-cum-washing plants will also be considered as crusher units.
To become a Public Crusher Unit, the unit must be registered and selected through a transparent tendering process in accordance with the Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act. The selection will be based on the lowest mineral price, which includes loading charges, but must not exceed the Common Sale Price (CSP) quoted by that particular crusher unit.
This initiative aims to not only ensure adequate sand and gravel supply within the state, but also make these essential materials accessible to consumers at reasonable prices.
The government shall, from time to time, notify a price, called the "Crusher Sale Price" (CSP), beyond which no mineral shall be sold by any crusher unit. CSP shall include the cost of mineral, transportation from mining site to the crusher unit, processing charges and profit and loading of mineral onto any permitted class of transportation vehicles. An online portal system shall be developed by the Department of Mines and Geology to register the crusher unit.
The crusher owners shall register their units themselves through online portal mode prepared by the department and crusher owner may, if it so desires, participate in the bids for commercial mining units under the Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy, 2023. The primary objective of the policy is to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the consumers and to ensure adequate supply of sand and gravel in the state, through appropriate market interventions by the government.
Green signal to amendments to 2013 Minor Minerals Rules
The Punjab Cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013, with the dual objectives of curbing illegal mining and increasing the supply of minor minerals in the state. These amendments were necessitated by the notification of the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy, 2023 on March 13. The modifications mainly focus on the allocation of contracts to concessionaires and public mining sites.
The goal is to enhance the efficiency of the policy, and the amendments cover various aspects, including definitions, annual concession amounts, Public mining sites, terms and conditions for the surrender of concessions, and the agreement Form L-1 within the Punjab Minor Minerals Rules 2013.
Punjab Govt okays relief policy for farm laborers hit by natural calamities
The Cabinet has granted approval to a policy aimed at providing relief to farm laborers who suffer crop losses due to natural calamities. Under this policy, an additional 10 percent of the relief amount, which is released to the Deputy Commissioners for crop damage relief, will be allocated from the state budget to compensate the affected farm laborers. The policy will be in effect from May 1, 2023, and it will benefit families of farm laborers, who either do not own any land (except for residential plots) or possess less than one acre of leased/rented/cultivated land.
Revival of 39 teaching faculty posts
The Punjab Cabinet also gave nod to revive 39 posts of teaching faculty, including five professors, 10 associate professors and 24 assistant professors of direct recruitment in nine departments of Government Dental College and Hospital, Amritsar and Patiala, besides taking them out of the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala, to fill these posts through the departmental selection committee. This will help in imparting quality education to students studying in government dental colleges and also provide better healthcare facilities to the public.
Revival of 11 posts in Punjab Legal Services Authority
The Cabinet also approved the revival of 11 posts, including three readers, four junior scale stenographers and four ahlmeds in the Punjab Legal Services Authority. Apart from this, two posts of peons would be filled up through outsourcing .The revival of these posts would increase the working efficiency of the Punjab Legal Services Authority thereby expediting the disposal of work.
Nod to hire 14 additional supervisors, 200 trainers for CM's Yogashala Project
With the aim of promoting a healthy and progressive Punjab through a widespread yoga movement, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 14 additional supervisors (Yoga) and 200 trainers (Yoga) for the CM's Yogashala Project. These appointments would be made under the Guru Ravidas Ayurveda University Punjab, Hoshiarpur, and the individuals would receive consolidated salaries.
Additionally, the Cabinet also sanctioned the hiring of four data entry operators through an outsourced agency at DC rates. This initiative is intended to facilitate and encourage yoga practices in the state by conducting yoga sessions and classes for the citizens.
Monthly maintenance grant of dharmi faujis increased
The Punjab Cabinet also gave consent to enhance the monthly maintenance grant of the Operation Blue Star affected 76 soldiers (Dharmi Faujis) from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000. The decision has been taken in wake of the escalating market inflation, current scenario and increase in daily needs of these Dharmi Faujis.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the adjustment of pending electricity bills worth Rs 8.50 crore related to 366 registered (verified/identified) gaushalas, including 20 government cattle ponds in Punjab from October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 from the amount of Cow Cess collected and lying with PSPCL.
- PTC NEWS
