Chandigarh, January 4: In a bid to check menace of stray cattle and ensure its upkeep in Gaushalas/Cattle Pounds, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday approved a sum of Rs.6.65 crore, out of which Rs. 4.03 crore would be spent to clear outstanding liabilities of 20 Government Cattle Pounds and Rs. 2.62 crore for the running cost for these cattle pounds for next three months.
Notably, stray cattle population is increasing day by day and has led to crop damage and losses to farmers. In addition, stray cattle lead to road accidents in cities and on highways. There is immediate need to control this problem. Therefore, the collected cow cess should be used for upkeep of stray cattle, to keep these stray cattle in Gaushalas/Cattle Pounds.
According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office, Rs. 20 crore has been made available by Local Bodies Department to Rural Development and Panchayats Department for the utilization to clear outstanding liabilities of 20 Government Cattle Pounds and for the running cost for these Cattle Pounds.
Balance funds out of the above mentioned Rs. 20 Crore and the balance funds available with Local Bodies Department, which was collected by Excise Department as cow cess, are proposed to be distributed to the 457 registered Gaushalas run by religious Institutions/NGO’s/Private parties @ Rs 5 lakhs per Gaushala subject to the condition that these Gaushalas will house additional 50 stray cattles before March 31, 2022. These 50 new stray cattle will be in addition to the already existing cattle heads kept at their premises and will be added after getting ear tagged by Animal Husbandry Department.
Pertinently, there is a need to make a Policy to hand over these 20 government Cattle Pounds to religious Institutions/NGO’s. The Committee constituted in the Cabinet meeting on December 31, 2021 will put forward its proposal, which would be placed by the Animal Husbandry Department for Cabinet approval. Financial Commissioner, Rural Development & Panchayats Department, Punjab would also be a member of this Committee.
GIVES EX-POST FACTO APPROVAL TO INCREASE HONORARIUM OF ANGANWADI WORKERS, MINI ANGANWADI WORKERS AND ANGANWADI HELPERS
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, Mini Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi helpers by Rs.1400, Rs.1000 and Rs.1050 per month respectively working under the Anganwadi Services Scheme.
The state government has introduced an assured annual hike in the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, Mini Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi helpers by Rs.500, Rs.250 and Rs.250 respectively on 1st January every year, w.e.f January 1, 2023.
Notably, the state government has taken this decision in recognition of the services of Anganwadi functionaries and its commitment to provide them better compensation for their work and an assured annual hike.
The decision would add an immediate financial burden of Rs. 72 crore annually and an additional burden of Rs. 23.88 crore each subsequent year to the state exchequer.
GIVES APPROVAL TO PROVIDE ONE TIME ONLINE/INTERNET ALLOWANCE OF RS. 2000/- TO ALL STUDENTS STUDYING IN ANY HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The Cabinet also accorded approval to provide one time online/internet allowance of Rs. 2000/- to all the students studying in any higher educational institutions i.e., institutions belonging to the Technical Education, Medical Education or Higher Education, College or University Govt. college or private college or aided college or constituent college. The decision will help nearly 8.67 lakh students studying in the higher educational institutions across the state in accessing internet facility for the purpose to continue their study while attending online classes in the Covid pandemic times.
CABINET APPROVES APPOINTMENTS TO STAR PUNJAB HOCKEY PLAYERS OF INDIAN OLYMPIC TEAM AS PCS/DSPs
In recognition with the outstanding contribution of Punjabi hockey players of Indian Team, which recently brought laurels for Country in the Tokyo Olympic Games-2020, the Cabinet gave approval to offer appointments to them as PCS/DSPs to those having minimum qualification as graduation. After the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister along with Sports Minister Pargat Singh handed over appointment letters to seven players besides CM Channi also announced Cabinet’s decision to elevate the Captain of Indian hockey team who was already posted as DSP in Punjab police as Superintendent of Police.
