Chandigarh, Sep 5 — The Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Saturday approved three key policies to ensure smooth procurement and movement of paddy during the upcoming Kharif marketing season.
At the same time, the Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) regulations and sanctioned new healthcare posts across the state.
According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Cabinet approved the Punjab Custom Milling Policy, the Punjab Foodgrains Transportation Policy, and the Punjab Foodgrains Labour and Cartage Policy to facilitate hassle-free procurement operations during the upcoming paddy season.
The Cabinet reiterated its commitment to procure every grain brought by farmers and authorised the Chief Minister to make necessary amendments to the policies in view of administrative exigencies during the procurement period.
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Public Service Commission (Group 'A') Service Regulations, 2012, enabling the issuance of a notification for promotion from the post of Personal Assistant to Personal Secretary in the commission.
To strengthen healthcare infrastructure, the Cabinet approved the revival of 33 newly created posts at the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Chamkaur Sahib, which was recently upgraded. The posts include specialists in medicine, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, pathology, ophthalmology and radiology, besides MBBS doctors, nursing staff and administrative personnel.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of 19 posts across various cadres for the office of the Civil Surgeon in Malerkotla and sanctioned 119 posts for the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Dhuri to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
Additionally, it gave approval to fill 80 vacant posts of Medical Officer (Dental) in the Health and Family Welfare Department, including 53 vacancies pending for more than a year and 27 vacant for less than a year.