HP cabinet approves amendments to SDA scheme

Himachal Pradesh cabinet today approved amendments in the Skill Development Allowance (SDA) scheme, relaxing the age criteria from 18 to 35 years in place of existing age limit of 25 to 35 years.
The educational qualification has also been lowered to matriculation instead of 10+2 and the condition of beneficiary being registered in the employment exchange for two years has also been waived.
The amendment provides that the beneficiary should be registered with any employment exchange in the state as on the date of application instead of earlier provision of minimum two years.
The cabinet granted approval to open tehsil at Bhuntr in Kullu, health sub-centre at Gram Panchayat Tung in Mandi benefiting 4,350 people of the area.

It also approved primary health centre at Panjawar in Haroli tehsil of Una district and filling of one post of Medical Officer and one post of Pharmacist to make it functional.
The cabinet gave its approval to dispose-off cases seeking employment on compassionate grounds and to revise the existing policy to the dependents of the deceased class-IV employees against class-IV post.

The income limit for compassionate employment in relation to dependents has been revised to Rs 1.25 lakh from existing Rs 75,000.
The compassionate employment on medical grounds has been restricted to 45 years of age.
The cabinet gave its approval to introduce Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2013 in the ensuing Assembly session seeking reversion to indirect election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor Shimla Municipal Corportion and presidents and Vice Presidents of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats.

The BJP government had brought the amendments to prove for direct elections for these posts in 2010.
In pursuance of its earlier decision to cancel the MoU signed for construction of rope-way beetwen Anandpur Sahib-Shri Naina Devi Ji, the cabinet today decided to call Expression of Interest (EoI) for setting up of this project within the state through PPP mode.
The cabinet approved the Fertiliser Policy for the year 2013-14 with a view to optimise the use of fertilisers and to ensure uniform prices throughout the state.