ITANAGAR, March 8 - Adopting a series of key policy decisions, the Kalikho Pul-led Cabinet in Arunachal Pradesh in its maiden meeting here last night decided to close the system of parking funds in the civil deposit to ensure transparency in public expenditure and the "isolated" engineering wings functioning under the government departments other than PWD, RWD, Forests, WRD, RD, PHED, Power and Hydropower.
"In order to ensure financial proprietary, quality of execution and monitoring and non-duplicity in execution of projects, the isolated engineering wings functioning in the departments other than PWD, RWD, Forest, WRD, RD, PHED, Power, Hydro Power will be closed from April 1 next and all engineers on deputation will be reverted to the parent department," it was decided in the Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Pul.
Besides endorsing all decisions and initiatives taken by Governor JP Rajkhowa during the President's Rule and deciding to implement and comply with his "order" for cancellation of all out-of-turn, officiating promotion or functional appointments, the Cabinet also approved to implement all the key policy decisions announced by Chief Minister in his Statehood Day speech and during his recent meetings with the State government officers.
The Cabinet also decided to lay primary focus on education, health, power, water supply, effective policing for upkeep of law and order, maintenance of basic essential services, including roads, etc.
The law and order would be a priority area and accordingly, additional manpower of 2,022 posts; 400 lady police constables posts will be created, besides TA/DA, medical and uniform allowances will be implemented forthwith.
The Cabinet also approved creation of 2,541 posts in the Health Department to fill the critical gap of manpower in the priority sector.
To improve the living standard of contingency/casual employees, the Cabinet approved enhancement of the minimum salary of workers from existing Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000 for unskilled and from Rs 5,100 to Rs 7,000 for skilled workers with additional Rs 2,000 for five yearly enhancement scheme. The casual/contingency employees serving in Area II shall continue to draw Rs 600 per month in addition to the above enhanced rates.
While service delivery would be improved, the Cabinet decided to adopt zero tolerance towards corruption.
The Cabinet also decided to promote Arunachal as a film destination and encourage local entrepreneurs for production, distribution and display.
