THE STATE Cabinet today raised the retirement age of the employees working in power corporations and power companies from 58 to 60 years.
Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav chaired the meeting of the Cabinet. About 55,825 employees of power corporations and companies would benefit from the decision. Out of them, nearly 5000 were about to retire in near future.
The State Government justified the raise and said this was being done in view of ambitious targets being set to increase power generation during the 11th Five Year Plan period.
The decision would cover the employees working in the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), Uttar Pradesh Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, Uttar Pradesh Jal Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, Uttar Pradesh Paschimanchal Distribution Company, UP Poorvanchal Distribution Company, UP Madhyamanchal Distribution Company, Uttar Pradesh Dakshinanchal Distribution Company and KESCO.
The cabinet also decided to bifurcate the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Karamchari Kalyan Nigam, taking out catering services from it to form UP Sachivalaya Khan Pan Nigam Limited.
As per the decision, 25 cafeterias of the UP Karamchari Kalyan Nigam would be taken out along with 335 employees and a general manager, who will be transferred to the new corporation.
The State Cabinet also approved the Molasses Policy for 2006-2007. As per the policy Uttar Pradesh would allocate 35 lakh tonnes of molasses to Uttaranchal. This is 10 lakh tonnes higher than the previous year when the quota for Uttaranchal had been fixed at 25 lakh tonnes. The State Cabinet decided to reserve 15 per cent of the molasses for country made liquor. Administrative charges to the tune of Rs 11 per quintal will be levied on molasses being consumed within UP while administrative charges to the tune of Rs 12 per quintal will be levied on imports.
{{/usCountry}}The State Cabinet also approved the Molasses Policy for 2006-2007. As per the policy Uttar Pradesh would allocate 35 lakh tonnes of molasses to Uttaranchal. This is 10 lakh tonnes higher than the previous year when the quota for Uttaranchal had been fixed at 25 lakh tonnes. The State Cabinet decided to reserve 15 per cent of the molasses for country made liquor. Administrative charges to the tune of Rs 11 per quintal will be levied on molasses being consumed within UP while administrative charges to the tune of Rs 12 per quintal will be levied on imports.
{{/usCountry}}In another decision, the Cabinet decided to make contractual appointments of professors, readers and lecturers in State Ayurvedic and Unani colleges. There are nearly 322 vacancies in the three categories.The age limit for such appointments would be 60 years.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to the discounts given on cotton, silk, Khadi and woolen products on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
The State Cabinet approved 10 percent discount on cotton and silk products w. e. f. October 3, 2006. It also approved discount on woolen and Khadi products w. e. f. October 15, 2006. The discount on these products would remain in effect for 108 days.
It decided to revise rate of interest to be charged on loan to be given to public sector undertakings.
As per the decision, the revised rate of interest to be charged on the small-scale units will be 9 per cent against the existing 10 per cent and will come into effect from April 1, 2005. It also approved new pay scales for the purpose of granting vehicle advance for the employees. Employees drawing basic salary of Rs 2720 will now be entitled to getting Rs 15000 advance for buying a moped.
Strike planned for Dec 14
THE STATE’S power employees will boycott work on December 14, in response to a call by the UP Vidyut Karmchari Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti to protest against the Electricity Act 2003 and privatisation of the power sector.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting here today. Samiti spokesman, Shailendra Dubey claimed that a strategy has been evolved to ensure that the boycott is successful.
The samiti, he said, demanded review of the Electricity Act and stopping of privatisation of the Anpara thermal powerhouse.