The Punjab government on Saturday gave its in-principle approval for a debt relief scheme for farm labourers and landless farmers, who are members of the Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS).
An official statement said the decision was taken at Cabinet meeting here. “It will benefit farm labourers and landless farming members of the PACS to the tune of ₹520.55 crore. The amount eligible for relief per head comprises an outstanding principal of up to ₹25,000 as on March 31, 2017 and simple interest of 7% per annum,” it said.
The Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to disburse ₹25 per quintal directly in the accounts of sugarcane farmers, out of a total State Agreed Price (SAP) of ₹310, with the remaining ₹285 per quintal to be paid to them by private sugar mills for the crushing year 2018-19.
The statement said that for preferential treatment to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) in matters of reservation in government jobs, the Punjab Cabinet had decided to go in for a constitutional amendment. The proposed amendment relates to insertion of Clauses 15 (6) and 16 (6) in the Constitution of India, vide the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019.
“Following the amendment, 10% reservation would be provided to the residents of Punjab belonging to EWSs, who were not covered under the existing scheme of reservation for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, and whose families have a gross annual income below ₹8 lakh,” said the statement.
The statement added that reservation would be provided in direct recruitment to groups A, B, C and D posts in departments, boards, corporations and local bodies of the State. “Family income for this purpose will include income from all sources i.e. salary, agriculture, business, profession etc,” it said.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to the Excise Policy for 2019-20. “A target of ₹6,201 crore has been fixed as against the anticipated collection of ₹5,462 crore fixed for 2018-19,” the statement said.
