Odisha cabinet approves 12 proposals; grant-in-aid of private colleges hiked

The Odisha Cabinet on Saturday approved 12 key proposals including the hike of the grant-in-aid to eligible employees of aided non-government colleges including erstwhile junior colleges in the state.

As per official sources, the hike in grant-in-aid will be effective retrospective from January 2022. As per the decision, around 15,711 teachers and employees will benefit and the state government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 290 crore annually.

It is pertinent to mention here that certain categories of employees were dissatisfied over Odisha Revised Scale of Pay Rules, 2017 vide Odisha (Aided Colleges, Aided Junior Colleges and Aided Higher Secondary Schools) Grant-in-Aid (Amendment) Order, 2022.

After considering the grievances, Odisha government has decided to extend the Grant-in-Aid on the basis of ORSP Rules, 2017 (7th pay) with effect from January 2022 and actual enhanced financial benefit.

“It is felt imperative to bring a new Grant-in-Aid Order namely Odisha (Payment of Grant-in-Aid to the Non-Government Aided Degree Colleges, Aided Junior Colleges and Aided Higher Secondary Schools) Grant-in-Aid Order, 2022. On the other hand, the Odisha (Aided Colleges, Aided Junior Colleges and Aided Higher Secondary Schools) Grant-in- Aid (Amendment) Order, 2022 is decided to be repealed,” the official release read.

Other Cabinet Decisions

-Amendment of Odisha Employment Service Class II (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1990

-Framing up of the Odisha Data Entry Operators (Commercial Tax and Goods and Services Tax Organization) Service Conditions Rules, 2023.

-Framing of Odisha Food Testing Laboratory Cadre (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Amendment Rules, 2022 to regulate the method of recruitment of service of the person appointed to the different posts of the State Food Testing Laboratory, Bhubaneswar.

-Proposal for allotment of 2.00 acres land in favour of Bagchi-Sri Shankara Cancer Care Centre and Research Institute (BSSCCRI) for construction of rest house for accommodation of cancer patients.

-Proposal to amend Orissa Superior Judicial Service and Orissa Judicial Service Rules, 2007 approved

-Cabinet approves tender for mega piped water supply projects to provide safe drinking water in Jajpur District out of JJM funding.

-Amendment of Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 by inserting enabling special provisions for inclusion of such Backward Classes in the State list of SEBCs approved.

-Amendment of five cadre rules of different cadres of Mineral Administration Wing, Geological Survey and Exploration Wing and Chemical Analysis Wing under the newly created Directorate of Mines and Geology approved.

(Reported by Harihar Chand)