CHANDIGARH: Punjab government  Tuesday decided to revive and fill up 69 posts of Punjab Civil Services (PCS) Executive Branch. The Punjab cabinet which met here under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also approved to revive 2000 posts of constables which had been abolished earlier and the recruitment process to fill these vacant posts would be initiated soon. 

The cabinet has decided that 38 posts of PCS would be filled through direct  recruitment and 31 by nominations which would be 12 from register A-I, 8 each from register A-II and A-III, 38 from register B and 3 from register C.

Giving the details Chief Minister's Media Advisor  Harcharan Bains said that of these existing 2000 posts of constables, 1000 posts would be utilized by absorption of an equal number of SPO's in the armed battalions.  Apart from this, 500 male constables and 500 female constables would be directly recruited in armed battalions and general cadre respectively.

The Cabinet also gave nod to provide the indoor medical treatment facility to the widows and unemployed/unmarried daughters of freedom fighters as per freedom fighters after their death.  Bains said that keeping in view the exceptional contribution of Shaheed Sewa Singh Thikriwala to the cause of Punjab state, the Cabinet also approved to increase the Swatantrata Sainik Sanman pension of her daughter Gurcharan Kaur from Rs.3000 to Rs.5000 per month. 

The Cabinet also gave approval for amending Punjab Land Revenue Rules, 1909 for paving a way to the appointment of honorary Nambardars (headmen) amongst the NRIs.  He would be required to perform duty to authenticate the pedigree table of NRIs along with their addresses abroad, assist the Patwari in preparation, maintenance and up-dation of record of rights including the harvest inspection in respect of NRI right holders besides any other duty assigned by the state government by a specific order.

The Cabinet also gave approval for the restoration of non practicing allowance to 39 senior PCMS officers of Deputy Director and above ranks which included Civil Surgeons, Medical Superintendents, Joint & Additional Directors and Director Health Services.       

The Cabinet gave approval to execute agreement as 'service providers' with the agencies viz. National Securities and Depository Ltd. (NSDL), SBI, Pension Funds Private Ltd., UTI Retirement Solutions Ltd., LIC Pension Fund Ltd, Bank of India and New Pension System Trust as approved or to be approved in future by Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA) of Central government and to declare Principal Secretary Finance as 'Authorized Signatory' to sign agreements on behalf of the state of Punjab and also Director Treasuries & Accounts in the department of finance as 'Designated Authority' under the 'New-Restructured Defined Pension Contribution Scheme (NPS) which had been made and introduced to all the employees of central government inducted into service on or after 1st January 2004 except armed force to interface into CRA system and for control and implementation of the scheme.

The Cabinet also approved to amend section 19 (1) and 20 (1) of the Punjab Advocates Welfare Fund Act 2002 to enhance the Vakaltnama fee from Rs.6 to Rs.8.