Shimla May, 3: Virtually getting into the poll mode, the state government decided to regulate the services of contract staff after three years of service and a substantial hike in the honorarium of Panchayat Chowkidars and Anganwari workers. The important decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh are aimed at wooing the employees who, with a strength of 2.25 lakh, constitute a substantial chunk of the electorate.
The Cabinet also decided to appoint Medical Officers only on regular basis from January 1, 2018. In another important decision it has been decided to regularize the services of para-medical staff of Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) after four years which includes three-year service under government contract and one year as RKS employee instead of eight years earlier. Nod was given for enhancement of 50 per cent of existing rates of daily allowances to the elected representatives of PRIs. As per budget announcement of the Chief Minister, the Cabinet approved enhancement in the monthly honorarium of Panchayat Chowkidars from Rs 2050 to Rs 2350 and the decision will benefit 3,226 chowkidars.
The Cabinet also enhanced the monthly honorarium of anganwari staff workers from Rs 450 to Rs 1,450 and anganwari sahayikas from Rs 300 to Rs 600. In a bid to improve service conditions for contract employees it was decided to provide one-day casual leave to contract appointees after one month of service, besides 10 days medical leave and five days special leave in a calendar year. A lady contract employee will be entitled to maternity leave for 135 days for two children.
The Cabinet also decided to provide 4-9-14 pay scale by counting ad hoc/RKS/contract service to all Medical Officers (general wing) for the services rendered in the department for the year 2017 as a one-time relaxation. The Cabinet gave its approval for purchase of 25 buses with capacity of 30 seats, 250 buses of 37-seat capacity and 50 buses with 47 seats. The Cabinet gave approval to increase the grant-in-aid from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per child per annum under HP Mother Teresa Matri Ashaaye Sambal Yojna.
News Source Tribune India
