The state government had issued the notification soon after Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had announced that the state government would constitute the Samanya Varg Aayog in Vidhan sabha session in Dharamshala after the massive protest led by the various bodies almost laid siege of the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan there, demanding the reservation for the general category in Himachal Pradesh.
According to the notification, the Aayog will be headed by a Chairperson with two members, who will be nominated by the state government. “An officer who is or has been not below the rank of joint secretary of the state government may be nominated as the member secretary”, states the notification issued on February 23.
According to the notification, term of Aayog shall be one year and can be extended further. The headquarters of the Aayog will be in Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh. Aayog shall make the recommendations to the government, it will examine the grievances, problems and issues or classes of general categories of the state and recommend solution of the section of the society.
The state government should provide the Aayog with officers and employees as may be necessary for its efficient performance. They will preferably be from surplus pool or on secondment basis or on outsource basis. The number of posts and service condition of the staff of the Aayog shall be such as may be specified by the state government.
State government shall provide necessary budget for the payment of salaries and allowances to the officers and the employees of the Aayog.
The Aayog shall study and survey the socio-economic condition of the marginalised and poor persons and families of the general classes of the society and formulate welfare scheme for their advancement and recommend to the government for their implementation.
The Aayog shall study the existing welfare scheme of the state government and recommend ways to implement them in the interest of the general classes of the state. It will also study welfare policy of other states and union territories also and may recommend to the state government for their adoption if found fit.
They will provide direction and recommend implementation of the safeguards and protection provided for the general classes in the Directive Principles and other parts of the Indian constitution. Aayog shall have the power to call for necessary information from any government department, government or semi government bodies, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies and will travel the entire state whenever it is required for the purpose of this Aayog and in the interest of the targeted general classes.
The Aayog will perform any other specific function or duty given by the state government. It shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare annual statement of accounts to be forwarded and modified by the state government in condition with the Accountant General Himachal Pradesh. AG will do audit of the Aayag as and when specified. Any expenditure incurred in condition with such audit shall be payable by the Aayog.
AG, Himachal Pradesh and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the same work, Aayog shall have the same right and privilege and authority in connection with such audit. AG generally has in connection with the audit of government accounts, shall have the right to demand production of books, accounts connected virtues and documents and papers and to inspect any of the office of the Aayog.
(Kuldeep Chauhan is Editor, HimbuMail)
