*CM LED CABINET ACCORDS APPROVAL FOR FILLING UP 359 POSTS IN AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT AND 80 POSTS OF CIVIL JUDGES*

GREEN SIGNAL TO SET UP NEW SUB-DIVISION OFFICE IN TECHNICAL WING OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT SAS NAGAR

Chandigarh, August 26- Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave approval to fill up 359 vacancies of direct recruitment in various cadres of the technical side of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Minister in its meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in Punjab Civil Secretariat- I.

Divulging the details, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that there has been acute shortage of officers/ employees in the department due to which its working had been affected adversely. These posts including 200 of Agriculture Development Officers, 150 of Agriculture Sub Inspectors and nine of Laboratory Assistants will be filled without any restructuring. Filling up of these posts will help the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare in smooth implementation of the Agriculture Development Schemes and in hassle free delivery of facilities to the farmers.

NOD TO FILL 80 POSTS OF CIVIL JUDGES

The Cabinet also decided to fill 80 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate through Punjab & Haryana High Court by bringing out the purview of Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala. This decision will help to expedite the process of recruiting new Judicial Officers to ensure speedy dispensation of work at the Subordinate Courts.

EX-POST FACTO APPROVAL TO EXTENSION OF SERVICES OF 497 VETERINARY PHARMACISTS AND 498 CLASS-IV/ SAFAI SEWAKS

Meanwhile, in a bid to provide efficient animal health services in the 582 veterinary hospitals across the state, the Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval for continuation of the services of Service Providers (497 Veterinary Pharmacists and 498 Class-IV/Safai Sewaks) already working on contract basis as a stop gap arrangement, for a period of one year, i.e. from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

This decision has been taken to ensure smooth functioning of the veterinary hospital, besides enabling dairy farmers to avail the best veterinary services for the livestock.

The state government has already transferred back 582 Civil Veterinary Hospitals to the Animal Husbandry Department, including the 582 sanctioned posts of Rural Veterinary Officers, from Rural Development & Panchayat Department, to provide efficient animal health services to livestock owners.

GREEN SIGNAL TO SET UP NEW SUB-DIVISION OFFICE IN TECHNICAL WING OF THE DEPARTMENT AT SAS NAGAR

With a motive to ensure smooth functioning of Rural Development and Panchayats Department, the Punjab Cabinet accorded green signal to establish a new Sub-Division Office in Technical Wing of the department at SAS Nagar. Total six posts including one post of Sub-Divisional Officer, Two posts of Junior Engineer, one post of Junior Draftsman, one of Clerk and one post of Peon have also been created.

REVAMPED DISTRIBUTION SECTOR SCHEME OF PSPCL GETS NOD

The Cabinet also approved the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) proposed by PSPCL to improve the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers by strengthening its Distribution system. He said that the Ministry of Power, Government of India has launched the scheme for Power Distribution sector with an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 Crore with an estimated gross budgetary support of Rs. 97,631 crore from GoI.