Allowance scheme for private sector staff

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 22

The state government on Monday decided to provide monthly Rs 1,000 Kaushal Vikas allowance to all newly engaged employees in private industries for a period of two years. The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here. Those youth with physical disability of more than 50 per cent would be provided allowance of Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme and it will be applicable for all the employees who are getting salary up to Rs 15,000 per month in private sector.

The Cabinet also decided to launch Medha Protsahan Yojana to provide coaching facility to meritorious students of Himachal Pradesh for competitive examinations such as CLAT/NEET/IIT-JEE/AIIMS/AFMC/NDA conducted by UPSC/SSC etc. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to the meritorious students whose family income does not exceed Rs 2.50 lakh per annum. A sum of Rs 5 crores will be spent under the scheme during the current financial year.

The Cabinet decided to introduce Swathya Mein Sahbhagita Yojana to ensure improved access and affordability of quality health care services in rural areas and to provide impetus to growth of private sector health care investments. 

Under this scheme, capital subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent up to investment of Rs 1 crore in building, machinery and equipments will be provided to any individual, firm, company, trust or society to establish a private allopathic hospital. It will also be provided 5 per cent interest subsidy for three years on maximum loan amount of Rs 75 lakh.

The Cabinet also gave approval for designating Honorary Head Constables and Head Constables completing 32 years of service as Honorary Assistant Sub Inspectors in Police Department. 

It also gave nod to fill 230 posts of post graduate teachers in Education Department on contract basis through direct recruitment to cope with the shortage of teachers in the department.

The Cabinet also gave nod for starting science classes in 19 government senior secondary schools at various places across the state. It was also decided to upgrade eight government primary schools to middles schools and two middle schools to high schools in Sirmaur, Mandi and Una.

Other Cabinet decisions

• The Cabinet decided to launch a scheme to provide coaching facility to meritorious students for competitive examinations
• Scheme introduced to ensure improved access and affordability of quality health care in rural areas
• Nod to fill 230 posts of PG teachers on contract basis
• Science classes to be started in 19 government senior secondary schools