Now, panchayats can issue ration cards

Shimla, The government today decided to authorise panchayats and other urban local bodies (ULB), including Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayats, to issue ration cards within their respective jurisdiction.The decision was taken by the Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister PK Dhumal here today. It had been decided to authorise Secretary/Executive Officer/Assistant Commissioners of Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayats to issue ration cards within their respective jurisdiction. These have to be countersigned by the president, chairperson or mayor of the concerned urban local body.In rural areas, the ration card shall be issued by the secretary, panchayat sahayak of the concerned gram panchayat and countersigned by the pradhan in their respective jurisdiction and if the panchayat is defunct it will be issued by officials of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.The government also decided to provide 8 kg of wheat or flour per person every month during the intervening period of July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, in all tribal areas of the state and difficult areas of Dodra Kwar in Shimla district and Bara Bhangal in Kangra district in relaxation of the norm of 35 kg of quota per family.The Cabinet also granted permission for filling 258 posts of pharmacist in the Health Department on contract basis through the Rogi Kalyan Samitis. It approved regularisation of services of the 11 contract teachers completing eight years of service in different District Institute Education Training.It also approved the attachment of local government health institutions for clinical and practical training purposes of BSc and GNM students in some of the existing private institutions to meet the mandatory requirements of the Nursing Council of India.It approved arrangements for the sale of power share through the Power Trading Corporation of India at competitive rates in the open market, both against equity participation as well as free power entitled in various hydroelectric projects.It approved Himachal Pradesh

(Forest Police Stations) Rules, 2010, for effective implementation in checking of smuggling of forest wealth, illegal forest felling and to protect the forest wealth.