LUCKNOW: With the Rajinder Sachar Committee set up by the Union Government acting as a source of inspiration, the Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday decided to increase the representation of the minorities in government jobs, and also to give a fillip to minority education.

For this purpose, the Government decided to set up a three-member Commission to finalise the modalities for ensuring participation of the minorities in government jobs and opening up more avenues of minority education. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

According to Chief Secretary Naveen Chandra Bajpai, the chairman and two members of the Commission, who have not been named, would be from the minority communities. The Commission would submit its report to the Government within three months.

Mr Bajpai said the Commission's working would be on the lines of the Sachar Committee. The decision was in tune with the Chief Minister's announcement in his budget speech, he added.

A record number of two-dozen decisions were approved by the Cabinet. However, a much-awaited decision on introducing reservation in private institutions was kept in abeyance. Informed sources said the issue figured in the Cabinet meeting but following apprehensions expressed by some of Mr. Yadav's colleagues, the Chief Minister was authorised to lay the groundwork before the decision was approved by the Cabinet.

Another important decision pertained to appointment of "panchayat mitras" (panchayat executive officers) in 18,237 gram panchayats of 22 districts where the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) is being implemented in the State. The Chief Secretary said the panchayat mitras would be appointed on a contract basis liable to be extended up to three years and paid Rs. 2,000 per month. Candidates in the age group of 18 to 35 years would be eligible for appointment.

Mr. Bajpai said the appointments would be made through a selection committee headed by the District Magistrate, and the panchayat mitras would be responsible for doing all the paper work related to the programme. The honorarium would be paid from the administrative charges under the NREGP.

The Cabinet further approved the appointment of 1,825 technical assistants on work contract basis in the 22 districts where the NREGP is functional.

By another decision, the Cabinet extended the "shiksha mitra" scheme of the Basic Education Department to the urban areas. Consequently, 7,000 shiksha mitras would be appointed on contract for 11 months from July to May, which can be extended. They would be paid Rs. 2,400 per month. Besides, the conversion cost in the mid-day meal scheme was increased from Rs. 1.50 per student to Rs. 2 per student, with the additional 50 paise being contributed by the State Government, the Chief Secretary stated.

The telephone rental and service tax charges for the members the State Legislative Assembly and State Legislative Council were increased from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000, which would be inclusive of cell phone facilities. Mr. Bajpai said the ministers would also be entitled to the monetary benefit.

Hathras again

Meanwhile, the name of Mahamaya Nagar district was reverted to Hathras. Hathras, in western U.P., had been christened as Mahamaya Nagar by the then Chief Minister Mayawati on May 6, 1997, but was renamed Hathras in 1998 by Chief Minister Kalyan Singh. But Ms. Mayawati again named it as Mahamaya Nagar on July 25, 2002, in her third term as Chief Minister. Now it has been renamed again as Hathras by Mr. Yadav.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail