Himachal to frame policy for contractual employees

348 VACANT POSTS OF TGT (MEDICAL) WILL BE FILLED VIA DIRECT RECRUITMENT ON CONTRACT BASIS THROUGH SSC

SHIMLA: Himachal cabinet has decided to formulate policy to safeguard the jobs of contractual (outsourced) employees engaged with various government departments across the state.

The cabinet meeting chaired by Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh decided to frame policy guidelines for safeguarding the working conditions of the contractual employees engaged through service providers on outsourcing basis.

The decision was announced on the floor of the House by Virbhadra in the budget session 2017-18.

The decision to fill 75 posts of panchayat ‘sahayaks’ in panchayati raj department besides regularising 533 panchayat secretaries serving on contract basis, who have completed three years of regular service on March 31, was also taken.

The cabinet accorded approval to fill up 348 vacant posts of trained graduate teacher (TGT) (medical), under the 15% promotional quota prescribed for junior basic trained (JBT) teachers, via direct recruitment on contract basis through staff selection commission (SSC).

The cabinet also approved to create and fill 125 posts of teaching, technical and ministerial staff in hydro engineering college at Bandla in Bilaspur district besides allowing the society to outsource the services pertaining to other necessary posts. FINANCIAL ENHANCEMENT

Another decision aimed to enhance financial assistance to the daughters of war widows from ₹15,000 to ₹50,000 was also approved, including the enhancement of ex-gratia to the dependents of soldiers of armed and paramilitary forces killed in action or operation.

The ex-gratia will be ₹20 lakh for battle casualty in defence and paramilitary forces, ₹5 lakh for physical casualty and grant of ₹2.5 lakh will be provided to the soldiers with 50% disability or above, sustained during the operations. The cabinet accorded approval to enhance the fixed medical allowance to employees and pensioners of the state government from ₹350 to ₹400 per month, with effect from June 1.

There are 51,000 employees and 29,000 pensioners in the state. This will cost around ₹38 crore to the state exchequer per annum.