SHIMLA:  Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today gave its nod for ordinance that ensures that Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs  will now pay their own income tax from this years on. It enhanced the honourarium of  all  representatives of panchayati raj institutions and extends  validity of HIMCARE Yojna for three years.  The Cabinet also okays Shimla Development Plan.  

The State Cabinet met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also  decided  to provide State Government guarantee enabling the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation to get Rs. 110 crore loan from banks at competitive rates. HRTC will pay its pending liabilities of death-cum-retirement gratuity and leave encashment of its retirees.

CM, Minister and MLAs Will Pay Their Own Income Tax

The Cabinet gave its approval for promulgation of Himachal Pradesh Payment of Income Tax on Salaries and Allowances of Certain Categories Ordinance, 2022 from the current financial year.  

Now the Income Tax shall be paid by the individual members i.e. Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and MLAs. Earlier, income tax was footed by the state government, 

HIMCARE

It also gave its ex-post facto approval for premium rates of Rs. 1000 or Rs. 365 for three years under Mukhya Mantri HIMCARE Yojna and also enhancing its validity period for three years. The applicants  can register cards under this scheme through the year.

PRIs Honorarium

It gave its approval to enhance the honorarium of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.   Chairman Zila Parishad would get Rs. 15000 instead of Rs. 12500, Vice Chairman Zila Parishad would get Rs. 10000, Member Zila Parishad Rs. 6000 per month.

The honorarium of Chairman  Panchayat Samiti would be Rs. 9000 instead of Rs. 7000, Vice Chairman Panchayat Samiti would be Rs. 6500 instead of Rs. 5000 and Member Panchayat Samiti Rs. 5500 in place of Rs. 4500 per month.

Similarly, the honorarium of Pradhan Gram Panchayat would be Rs. 5500 in place of Rs. 4500, Up Pradhan Gram Panchayat Rs. 3500 instead of Rs. 3000 and Member Gram Panchayat would get Rs. 600 per month instead of Rs. 500.

The Cabinet gave its approval to the Development Plan for Shimla Planning Area after over 43 years, as till now interim developmental plan was in force.

The Cabinet decided to include Gram Panchayat Jhungi in Development Block Nihri in Mandi district by excluding it from Development Block Gohar. 

The Cabinet decided to create a Sub Division of Public Works Department at Jainagar in district Solan alongwith creation and filling up of six posts of different categories. 

It also decided to open a new Section of Public Works Department at Balgar in district Shimla. 

The Cabinet decided to relax the condition of possession of atleast 5 kanal agricultural land for registering the tractors purchased for agriculture purposes under Custom Hiring Centre Scheme under the centrally sponsored Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization. 

The Cabinet gave its approval to the proposal to amend the Development Plan for Solan plan area.

It decided to open Jal Shakti Vibhag Section at Hatgarh under Jal Shakti Sub Division Baggi-II and one Jal Shakti Section at Sainj under Jal Shakti Sub Division Gohar in Nachan Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district. 

The Cabinet also decided to open Jal Shakti Vibhag Section at Balh Ropa  (Chuhar valley) under Jal Shakti Sub Division Padhar in Drang Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district. 

It gave its consent to create and fill up one post of Instructor Food and Beverage Service Assistant in Government ITI Shimla, one post of Instructor COPA in State-of-the-Art Government ITI Sunni, one post of Instructor Electrician in Government ITI Women Bilaspur and one post of Instructor Information Technology in State-of-the-Art Government ITI Sunni. 

It decided to open new primary school at village Rigarwala in Gram Panchayat Kaulawala Bhud under Education Block Surla in Nahan Assembly Constituency of Sirmaur district. 

It also decided to open new Primary Health Centre at Bandal, Gram Panchayat Kashaud in Mandi district alongwith creation and filling up three posts of different categories. 

The Cabinet gave its nod to open Health Sub Centre at Bakhali in Gram Panchayat Tandi in Mandi district to facilitate the people of the area. 

It gave its consent to demolish five old (unsafe) government buildings of Wildlife Wing (Forest Department) for construction of 200 bedded Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehreu Government Medical College and Hospital Chamba. 

The Cabinet decided to provide Essentiality and Feasibility Certificate/NOC for increasing of B.Sc Para Medical Technology Seats (3 years degree course) in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College Tanda in Kangra district from existing 26 seats to 54 seats.

It also decided to open new Division of Jal Shakti Vibhag at Rajgarh in Pachhad Vidhan Sabha area of Sirmaur district alongwith requisite posts. 

The Cabinet gave its approval to increase the monthly stipend of PG students of Rajiv Gandhi Government Ayurvedic Post Graduate College Paprola by Rs. 8000 per month from April, 2022.

It also gave its approval to open new Ayurvedic Health Centre at village Kandobayla in Dadahu tehsil of Renukaji Vidhan Sabha Area in Sirmaur district alongwith creation and filling up of 3 posts of different categories.