IN THE ASSEMBLY

Budget today; Dhumal may play it safe
In the state’s annual budget for 2010-11 to be presented in the Assembly on Friday,Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is unlikely to impose any new tax,in view of the recent criticism of the government for raising bus fares,it is learnt. According to sources,the BJP government will choose a safe path though the CM,who holds the finance portfolio,has a tough task of striking a fine balance between the growing deficit and the state’s revenue resources. Only a few days ago,the CM had hinted that the state’s fiscal health had deteriorated and with the 13th Finance Commission cutting down grants,things would become worse for the state,which would find it difficult to pay salaries and pensions. The annual burden of the salaries has increased to Rs 4,400 crore and pensions to Rs 1,850 crore per annum.

House pays tributes to former speaker Rana Kultar Chand
The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha paid rich tributes to former speaker Rana Kultar Chand,a legendary figure in the panchayati raj and cooperative movement. He passed away on March 9 at Fortis hospital in Chandigarh,after a brief illness,at the age of 88. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal remembered Rana as a mountaineering enthusiast who had deep interest in social work. After quitting politics,Rana practised law in the Himachal Pradesh High Court till recently. Born on December 23,1922,in Khaira village of Kangra district,Rana did his schooling from the same village. For higher education,he went to Lahore. Before joining state politics in 1963,when he was elected to the Assembly on a Congress ticket,Rana played an active role in the Panchayati Raj movement. He served as speaker of the Assembly from 1972 to 77. The house observed two minutes’ silence in memory of the leader.

Transferred employees can’t leave station before reliever joins,says CM
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal assured the house that the government was taking due care to ensure that government employees who get transferred out of tribal areas do not leave the station before the next incumbent joins. Replying to a question,he said the government had already made one tenure in a tribal area compulsory for promotions at various levels.

Story continues below this ad

9.69 lakh job cards issued under NREGA in 2009-10,minister tells Assembly

SHIMLA: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jai Ram Thakur said nearly 9.69 lakh job cards were issued in the state under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in year 2009-10. Replying to a question,Thakur said the participation of women in the scheme had,so far,gone up from 39 per cent last year to 44 per cent this year.

ens