The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday has decided to grant special vacations to all students, teaching and non- teaching staff of all government and private schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, engineering colleges and coaching institutes of the state from November 11 to 25 in view of the COVID -19 situation.
The state Cabinet has also decided to convene winter session of Himachal Pradesh state Assembly from December 7 to 11 at Dharamshala and has appraised the state Governor in this regard. The Cabinet decided to organize next Jan Manch on December 5.
It also approved to reduce the token tax on various vehicles and decided to charge 6 percent tax on motor cycle/scooter priced at Rs One lakh and 7 percent above Rs One lakh. Six percent token tax would be charged on personal motor vehicles and construction equipment vehicles valued up to Rs 15 lakh and 7 percent on these vehicles above Rs 15 lakhs.
The Cabinet decided to fill up 220 posts of pharmacists on contract basis and vacant posts of Class-IV employees in PHCs and CHCs in the health and family welfare department on daily wages.
It also gave its consent to create and fill up 12 posts of Personal Assistants in the District and Session Judges courts. It gave its nod to create and fill up seven posts of Junior Office Assistant (IT) one each in ADR Centres at Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Dharamshala, Reckong Peo, Nahan, Shimla and Una on contract basis. The Cabinet decided to open an ART Centre at Mandi.
It decided to approve ropeway project from Narkanda to Hatu Peak and allot the project to consortium of Randhawa Constructions Private Limited New Delhi and Hongkong based Q2A Solutions Limited (JV) on PPP mode for a period of 40 years.
The Cabinet also reviewed the prevailing Covid-19 situation in the State. It directed to increase testing for every Covid-19 +ve case and trace contacts at the earliest.
The Cabinet also directed to launch a special campaign for protection of vulnerable groups by deployment of field staff from health department, besides taking extensive IEC campaign for promoting behavioral change to combat COVID-19.
The Cabinet also appealed people to follow all the COVID- 19 preventive protocols during social functions like marriages.