also in the meeting
Pre-primary enrolment: The cabinet gave its nod to school education department to start enrolment in pre-primary classes across the state from this month. The schools will start enrolling children over the age of 3 in the pre-primary classes, which will become operational in the forthcoming session. Under existing rules, government schools could admit children only over the age of six. Nod to tech varsity: The cabinet gave go-ahead for inviting global tenders to establish a “world-class” technology university at Mohali. The university, which will focus on skill development in IT and IT-enabled services, biotechnology and related biosciences, material sciences and nanotechnology, will help tax revenues up by Rs 600 crore, said a spokesperson. Liquor vends in municipal
areas: In line with the Supreme Court judgement of July 11, the cabinet on Wednesday approved amendment to the Punjab Excise Act to allow licensed liquor vends in the limits of municipal areas to sell liquor even if they are located within a distance of 500 metres from national/state highways. Also, with this amendment, bringing of foreign liquor from other states into Punjab in a quantity exceeding 12 bottles of 750 milliliters capacity each will be a non-bailable offence. Criteria for plots in Mohali IT
City: The eligibility criteria for allocation of plots in IT City, Mohali, for sizes varying between three and 25 acres has been relaxed to allow nonCMM-SEI Level 5 certification companies to set up business. Further, companies wishing to exit IT City have been allowed to surrender plots by deducting 10% of paid-up amount. New scheme for rural poor: To ensure that the benefits of its various welfare programmes reach the rural poor, the government has decided to launch a new scheme — the Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY) — in line with the Antyodaya principles. The scheme will be implemented in the state’s rural areas, where it will identify the poor and distressed households which have been deprived of the benefits of the various welfare schemes. Move against fraud lenders: Concerned over mushrooming growth of fraudulent financial establishments in the state in the recent past, the cabinet approved introduction of a fresh bill in the Vidhan Sabha to protect interests of depositors against default. Regularisation in Amritsar :It was decided to provide a one-time opportunity for regularisation of unauthorized commercial establishments in the Amritsar Walled City (Galiara) . Application fee may be prescribed by January 31.
Tributes to war hero: The cabinet, led by CM Captain Amarinder Singh, paid tributes to Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, who died last week, recalling his immense contribution to the nation’s peace and security. The cabinet stood in silence for a minute as a mark of respect.