Punjab Cabinet approves scheme to ensure upkeep of government schools across state

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Cabinet on Friday gave its nod for implementation of a scheme which will ensure "proper" upkeep of the government schools across the state.

"In order to ensure proper maintenance of the government schools across the state, the Cabinet gave the green signal for implementation of a state scheme," an official statement said. Under this scheme, requisite funds will be provided by the state government for sanitation, cleanliness, security and smooth running of the school campuses. This will help the school administrations to run the schools in a smooth and hassle free manner to impart quality education to students, said the statement.

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The Cabinet, which met under chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, also gave approval for filling up 500 vacant posts of 'Group C and D' categories in cooperative Milkfed and its affiliated milk unions through direct recruitment. The move is aimed at overcoming the shortage of staff for streamlining the functioning of Milkfed and its affiliated milk unions, the statement said. This will benefit the milk producers and farmers to ensure a lucrative milk market through value addition and efficient marketing of produce.

Likewise, it will facilitate the consumers by further improving the quality of milk and milk products produced by Milkfed, it said. Meanwhile, in consonance to the vehicle scrapping policy introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Punjab Cabinet decided to give motor vehicle tax rebate of up to 15 per cent to the transport vehicle owners and 25 per cent to non-transport vehicle owners.

The owners of transport vehicles can take advantage of this rebate under the scheme up to eight years from the date of registration of their vehicles and owners of non-transport vehicles up to 15 years from the registration of their vehicles. When a vehicle is scrapped by the vehicle owner, the vehicle will be purchased by the scrapper who will issue a "Certificate of Deposit", which will be deposited with the licensing authority concerned and the owner of the vehicle will get the rebate on motor tax.

The Punjab Cabinet also approved the policy for disbursement of discretionary grants by chief minister and Cabinet ministers for creation and repair of existing basic infrastructure, environment improvement and fulfilling the basic needs of the poor residing in Punjab. As per the decision, the chief minister will have Rs 5 crore in his discretionary quota whereas Cabinet ministers will have Rs 1.50 crore each in their discretionary quota during a financial year.