Shimla. The State Cabinet in its meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur decided to reduce sewerage charges from 50 percent to 30 percent of the water bills being charged by the Jal Shakti Vibhag thereby providing much needed relief to the consumers of the State.
It also gave its nod to enhance the financial assistance for education upto two children of the registered beneficiaries of Himachal Pradesh Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
Now the girl child and boy would get annual financial assistance of Rs. 8,000 and 5,000 respectively instead of Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 3,000 respectively from 1st to 8th standard.
Similarly from 9th to 12th standard girl child would get Rs. 11,000 instead of Rs. 10,000 and boys would receive financial assistance of Rs. 8,000 instead of Rs. 6,000.
For graduation the girls would get Rs. 16,000 instead of Rs. 15,000 and boys would receive Rs. 12,000 instead of Rs. 10,000. Similarly, for post graduation and diploma courses of one year to three years duration, the girls would get Rs. 21,000 instead of Rs. 20,000 and boys would receive Rs.17,000 instead of Rs. 15,000.
For professional courses/ degrees and Ph. D, Research Courses, the girls would get Rs. 36,000 in place of Rs. 35,000 and boys would get financial assistance of Rs. 27,000 per annum in place of Rs. 25,000.
It also decided to enhance the financial assistance from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 51,000 for marriage of workers and upto Rs. 51,000 each for the marriage of two children only.
It also decided to disburse third instalment of financial assistance of Rs. 2,000 to the registered beneficiaries of Himachal Pradesh Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The Cabinet gave its approval to implement Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme in Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts and to create and fill up one post each of Women Welfare Officer and two posts each of District Coordinator in each districts on outsource basis.
The Cabinet gave its approval for constitution of State Food Commission for effective monitoring and review of implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 in the State.
The Cabinet decided to simplify policy for providing ‘Compassionate Employment’ and delegation of powers to departments for disposal of cases of compassionate employment.
Now instead of Clerks, the cases will be considered to the post of Junior Office Assistant (IT).
The Cabinet gave its nod to fill up 30 posts of Junior Engineer (Civil), 20 posts of Junior Engineer (Mechanical) and six posts of Junior Engineer (Electrical) in Jal Shakti Vibhag on contract basis.
The Cabinet decided to fill up two posts of Steno Typist on contract basis and one post of driver on daily wage basis in the office of Deputy Commissioner Kullu, besides one post of driver on daily wage basis in the office of Deputy Commissioner Chamba.
It gave its approval to fill up two posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) on contract basis as backlog under the quota meant for dependents of freedom fighters in Co-operation Department.
It decided to start Science (Non Medical) classes in Government Senior Secondary School, Bari Kandrori in Indora assembly constituency and commerce classes in Government Senior Secondary School, Gummar in Jwalamukhi assembly segment of Kangra district alongwith creation of six posts of lecturers of these streams.
It also gave its consent to name the Horticulture and Forestry Development and Extension Institute, Thunag as College of Forestry and Horticulture Thunag alongwith creation of requisite posts to manage this college.
It also decided to open Sub Division of Jal Shakti Vibhag at Narag in Sirmaur district besides creating new Sections Narag and Deelman under this Sub Division.
The Cabinet gave its consent for appointment of 18 left out staff nurses working under the National Health Mission in Rogi Kalyan Samiti on contract from the roster points in respect of which requisition of recruitment of staff nurses has already been placed by Director Health Services with Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission, Hamirpur by considering these appointments from prospective date.
On the recommendation of the GST Council of India, the Union Government has carried out amendments in certain sections of Central GST Act 2017, but due to Covid-19 pandemic the corresponding amendments under the HP GST Act could not be issued.
Now, the State Cabinet gave its approval for corresponding amendments required to be made under H.P. GST Act, 2017 by way of Ordinance.
The Cabinet decided that Clause 7 of the Ordinance will substitute the Proviso to sub section (2) of Section 31 of H.P. Goods and Services Tax Act so as to empower the Government to notify the categories of services of supplies in respect of which tax invoice shall be issued and to make rules regarding the time and manner of its issuance.
It also gave its nod to Clause 8 of the Ordinance to amend Section 51 of H.P. Goods and Services Tax Act so as to empower the Government to make rules to provide for the form and manner in which a certificate of tax deduction at source shall be issued. It also approved Clause 9 of the Ordinance to insert a new sub section (1A) in Section 122 A of this Act so as to make the beneficiary of certain transactions at whose instance such transactions are conducted liable for penalty.
It also gave its approval to Clause 10 of the Ordinance to amend Section 132 of this Act to make offence of fraudulent availment of input tax credit without invoice a cognizable and non bailable offence under Sub Section 1 of Section 69 and to make any person who retains the benefit of certain transactions and at whose instance such transactions are conducted liable for punishment.
The Cabinet also gave its approval to Clause 11 of the Ordinance to amend Section 140 of the Act relating to transitional arrangements for input tax credit so as to prescribe the time limit and the manner for availing input tax credit against certain unavailed credit under the existing law.
This amendment shall take effect retrospectively from 1st July, 2017.
It approved Clause 12 of the Ordinance to insert new Section 168 A so as to empower the government to issue such notifications retrospectively which could not be issued instantly in public interest due to Covid-19 pandemic.
It also gave its approval to Clause 13 of the Ordinance to amend Section 172 of the Act so as to extend time limit provided for removal of difficulties there under from three years to five years with effect from the commencement of the said Act.