The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, gave its approval for 359 positions in various technical units of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to be filled through direct hiring.
According to a representative for the Chief Minister's office, the department's operations have been negatively affected due to an acute shortage of officers and workers. Without any restructuring, these positions—200 Agriculture Development Officers, 150 Agriculture Sub-Inspector, and nine Laboratory assistants—would be filled.
The Punjab Cabinet also decided to fill 80 posts of Civil Judge (Junior Division)-cum-Judicial Magistrate through the Punjab and Haryana High Court by bringing it out of the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala. The decision will help in accelerating the hiring of new judicial officers to ensure that work at the subordinate courts is done quickly.
The Cabinet gave the green signal to open a new subdivision office under the department's technical branch in SAS Nagar to ensure the seamless operation of the Rural Development and Panchayats Department. Six positions have been created: one Sub-Divisional Officer, two Junior Engineers, one Junior Draftsman, one Clerk, and one Peon.
To strengthen its distribution system and increase the quality and dependability of power supplies to consumers, the PSPCL presented the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, which the Cabinet also approved.
The amended Punjab Food Grains Transportation Policy and the new Punjab Food Grains Labour Policy both received approval from the Cabinet to encourage greater competitive engagement and transparency.
This happened not long after Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a former minister of food and supplies, was detained for allegedly awarding contracts with a preference based on "financial considerations."
The new policy separates the labor and transportation sectors and allows those without prior experience to apply. All vehicles to be utilized for transportation will have a vehicle-tracking system connected to the Anaj Kharid Portal. As per the policy, labor associations will have a chance to directly take part in the tendering process.
Extension to 497 veterinary pharmacists
The Cabinet also ex post facto approved the continuation of the services of service providers (497 veterinary pharmacists and 498 Class-IV/safai sewak) already working on a contract basis as a stop-gap measure for a duration of one year to provide effective animal health services in the 582 veterinary hospitals throughout the state (from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023).
