Assam Cabinet: 40 lakh new ration cards, 2% job quota for ex-servicemen

CABINET MEETING AT GANDHI MANDAP

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a first of its kind, the State Cabinet sat on mattresses in Gandhian style atop the Gandhi Mandap hill in Guwahati today and took a slew of important decisions. In sync with Gandhiji's ideology, the Cabinet approved the formation of the Safai Karmachari Ayog for the overall development of the safari karmacharis.

Briefing newsmen after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The Cabinet decided to provide new ration cards to 40 lakh people. They will get free of cost rice and other commodities under the National Food Security Act of 2013. We have approved Rs 525 crore to upgrade 162 police stations. The Palashbari police station will have an integrated building – the police station on the ground floor and staff quarters on the first floor."

He said, "The Cabinet decided to provide jobs to the next of kin of each police personnel martyred after 1985. We have provided them ex gratia, but not jobs. It will benefit around 400 families of martyred police personnel. It is a long-due justice. The Cabinet today approved Rs 361-crore financial assistance to the BTC."

"The Cabinet approved APSC reforms. It decided to abolish the two optional papers in ACS examinations. The general papers will include all subjects. We took the decision based on proposals from the APSC," the Chief Minister said.

To streamline the administration by promoting work culture, the Cabinet decided to recruit ex-Army personnel. The Chief Minister said, "The Cabinet reserved two per cent in Grade I and II posts for ex-servicemen. Since army personnel have short services, we can encash the experience of such personnel in our state administration."

He said, "The Cabinet decided to raise the third Assam Forest Battalion. It will provide job avenues to around 1,100 youths. We also approved the filling up of 1,700 vacant posts in the Forest Department and 6,000-7,000 regular and contractual vacant posts in the Education department. To meet power subsidies to consumers, the Cabinet approved the release of Rs 285 crore to the APDCL. The Assam Government and ONGC will set up a 250-MW solar power project."

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