CABINET LED BY CM GIVES APPROVAL FOR CONSTITUTING SIKHYA-TE-SEHAT FUND FIRST OF ITS KIND MOVE AIMED AT CREATION AND SPRUCING UP OF THE CAPITAL ASSETS IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister here at Punjab Civil Secretariat I.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the fund is primarily aimed at creation and sprucing up of the capital assets in the fields of Health and Education within the geographical limits of the state for the benefit of public through mobilising voluntary donations. The Chief Minister will be chairperson of the trust with Finance Minister as its Vice Chairperson, Chief Secretary as Member Secretary and Ministers of Health, School Education, Medical Education, Higher Education and Technical Education departments as its Trustees. The trust will also have an advisory committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

GIVES NOD TO AMENDMENT IN POLICY TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO COTTON PICKING LABOUR
In another significant decision aimed at providing relief to the cotton picking labourers in event of Cotton Crop loss due to pest attack, the Punjab Cabinet accorded its consent to amend the existing policy of Revenue Department for identification of farm labourers in this regard. The primary objective of this policy is to also provide relief to cotton picking labourers when relief is given farmers on account of crop damage. However, as identification of farm labourers was difficult with the provisions of existing policy, so it has been amended to overcome these difficulties.
As per the revised policy, the Revenue Patwaris and Agriculture extension officers will identify the labourers through a comprehensive survey of the villages and the Patwaris will certify that the family doesn’t have any cultivable land or owns land less than one acre. The list prepared by Patwaris and Agriculture Extension Officers will be finalized after getting public objections and certification in the general hearing at villages on a stipulated time. The policy will be applicable from Kharif Season 2021 onwards.

APPROVES SPECIAL REMISSION CASE OF 23 CONVICTS/LIFE CONVICTS
The Cabinet also gave approval, under Article 163 of the Constitution of India, for sending the case of special remission to 23 convicts/ life convicts confined in Jails of Punjab to Punjab Governor for consideration under Article 161 of the Indian constitution.

GREEN SIGNAL TO LEAVES FOR GUEST FACULTY AND PART TIME LECTURERS
In another major decision, the Cabinet also gave nod for granting earned leave, half pay leave and extraordinary leave to guest faculty and part time lecturers of the Government Colleges in addition to the existing casual and maternity leaves. This was a long standing demand of the guest faculty and part time lecturers. This benevolent gesture of the state government will help in easing out the hardships being faced by these lecturers.

APPROVES PROPOSAL FOR SIGNING OF AGREEMENTS FOR INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING CLUSTER (MIC) UNDER AMRITSAR-KOLKATA INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR
To create conducive environment for industrial sector thereby creating jobs for youth, the Council of Ministers also approved the proposal for signing of Shareholders Agreement (SHA) and State Support Agreement (SSA) for Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (MIC) under Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) Project near Rajpura, which is coming up with the support of National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC). The project will act as a catalyst for local commerce, business with global-competitiveness and creating an environment conducive to investment. It will also generate employment of about 32724 from Industrial and 14880 from non-industrial support amenities.

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS OF COOPERATIVE DEPARTMENT APPROVED
Meanwhile, the Punjab Cabinet also approved Annual Administrative Report of year 2017-18 and 2018-19 of Punjab Cooperative Department.