Sindh cabinet approves Rs4b for monsoon relief

Cash disbursement to affectees of 2020 rains to be done via mobile banking

The Sindh cabinet approved a relief grant of over Rs4 billion on Tuesday for those who sustained losses during the 2020 monsoon rains. The cash is to be disbursed among the affectees through the mobile banking system.

Besides, the cabinet approved the establishment of an anti-encroachment police station in Tharparkar district and a proposal for universalised social security system in the province, and set up committees to review the recruitment policy for teaching and non-teaching staff and to review a proposal by the agricultural department seeking its own 'works unit'.

Moreover, the cabinet decided to transfer all Darul Aman and safe houses from the social welfare department to the women development department. Following this, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the chief secretary to review the functions of the women development and social welfare departments. If they are identical then they may be merged, he instructed.

Relief for rain affectees

The cabinet was apprised that after analysing the pros and cons of various alternative modalities and mechanisms, the Board of Revenue, finance department and the Social Protection Unit were in consonance that disbursement of cash may done through mobile banking by inviting technical and financial proposals from a consortia of different telecommunication companies and banks.

"This will help the affectees to receive cash by showing their original Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) to the mobile bank without going into the process of opening a bank account," said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while granting the approval.

The cabinet approved the proposal and granted exemption to the BoR from the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA).

Anti-encroachment police station

The BoR submitted another proposal before the cabinet seeking the approve the establishment of the anti-encroachment police station for Tharparkar district.

The cabinet was apprised that after installation of power plants and establishment of coal mining the lands of Tharparkar have achieved highest value, as a result the issues of encroachments were cropping up day by day.

The cabinet was told that the BOR has 18 anti-encroachment police in 18 districts and now they would establish 19th police station in Tharparkar, if the proposal was approved.

The cabinet approved the proposal along with Rs6.5 million for purchase of vehicles and office equipment.

Social security

Meanwhile, the labour department put forth two amendments in two sections of the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) law to create provision for the issuance of the Benazir Mazdoor Card, which has already been announced by the provincial government. The proposed amendments would enable workers and self-employed workers to contribute to SESSI and to register for the benefits, the meeting was informed.

The cabinet approved the proposal for universilisation of social security in the province.

Edu dept recruitment policy

Besides, the school education department presented a recruitment policy of teaching and non-teaching staff through third party. Some cabinet members were of the view that there should only two categories - primary and secondary - objecting to other categories such as subject specialists.

Following this, the CM constituted a committee comprising Advisor to CM on Works and Services and Universities and Boards Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah, who both formerly held the portfolio of the education minister, and incumbent Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani. They were tasked with reviewing the recruitment policy and submitting a report within 15 days.

As many as 30,000 positions of primary teachers and 7,000 positions of secondary teachers were stated to be vacant.

Similarly, a committee comprising Khuhro, Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu and the finance secretary was set up to review the agriculture department's proposal seeking its own Works Unit so it may construct buildings for markets and the like on its own.

A third committee was formed to submit their recommendations on the home department's request for the incorporation of the Shaheed, deceased and Ghazi quota in the Sindh Police Family Claim Rules 2020.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2021.