SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Cabinet has decided that now there would be no requirement of RT-PCR tests for entering Himachal Pradesh though corona curfew would continue from 5pm to 5am.
Cabinet has decided that intrastate public transport would be allowed with 50 percent occupancy and section 144 has been lifted.
Decision has also been taken to increase the timing of opening of shops from 9am to 5pm from June 14 with Saturday and Sunday to remain closed.
The meeting of state Cabinet was held in Shimla which was presided over by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur during which Covid-19 situation in the State was reviewed.
It was decided that offices would function with 50 percent of staff, with staff strength of 75 and above from June 14.
All the medical colleges, ayurvedic colleges and dental colleges would remain open from June 23 while pharmacy and nursing schools would open from June 28.
The Cabinet provided a relief of about Rs 40 crore to the transport sector one of the worst hit sector by the pandemic which include an Interest Subvention Scheme on working capital for stage carriage operators, under which a loan amount of Rs 2 lakh per bus and maximum amount up to Rs 20 lakh would be provided to the bus operators as working capital.
The Cabinet also provided much needed relief to Stage Carriage, Taxi, Maxi, Autorickshaw and Institution Buses by giving the relief of 50 per cent on payment of Special Road Tax and Token from August 1 last year to March 31 this year.
The Transport sector would get relief of about Rs 20 crore due to this decision.
It also decided to provide 50 percent relief on Special Road Tax and Token Tax during the period of three months from 1st April, 2021 to 30th June, 2021.
This decision would provide relief of Rs 8 crore to stage carriages, taxis, maxi, autorickshaws, contract carriage buses and institution buses.
This relief provided by the government to the transport sector during the critical period of Corona would benefit all the people of the State and would also prove to be a big help for the transport sector.
It also decided to create and fill up 401 posts of different categories in Trauma and Tertiary Care Centre in Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital Shimla and Super Specialty Block Chamiana of IGMC for its smooth functioning and to provide specialized health care facilities to the people of the State besides 328 posts of different categories on outsource basis.
Keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic situation in state, the Cabinet decided to conduct examinations of Graduate and Shastri final year during the month of July s per SoPs issued by UGC.
It also decided to hold the examinations of Graduate 1st and 2nd year after the final examinations are over.
It also decided to start the academic session for the year 2021-22 for graduation classes from 1st week of August this year.
The Cabinet gave its nod to revised scheme for Interest Subvention on Working Capital Loan for Hospitality Industry with a view to ensure that Tourism Unit operators could get easier access to working capital at interest rates lower than the prevailing market rates.
The Cabinet decided to include the families under National Food Security Act (Priority Households Category) where death occurred due to Covid pandemic.
It gave approval to make necessary amendments in Mukhya Mantri Swalamban Yojna 2019 to include Service enterprises and related goods carriers can be combined as composite related activities.
The Cabinet decided to grant ex post facto permission to set up/ operationalize Makeshift Hospitals at Pandoga in district Una (200 bedded) Radha Swami Satsang at Parour in Palampur (500 bedded), Radha Swami Satsang at Khaliar in Mandi district and Radha Swami Satsang at Anji in Solan district (200 bedded) in public interest.
It also decided to provide 60 staff nurses, six ward sisters, 30 ward boys, 20 sweepers, 15 security personnel, 10 housekeeping persons and five DEOs each through outsource basis.