Jaipur, December 9. Several important decisions were taken at the State Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje which was held at the Chief Minister’s Office on Tuesday. These include, expansion of the Scheduled Area regions; setting-up of a new agency Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage & Infrastructure Corporation; and 20% hike in fix payments given to about 1 lakh probationers in the state.

After the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Rajendra Rathore briefed the mediapersons that the State Cabinet approved to expand the Scheduled Areas under the Schedule V of the Constitution of India in accordance with the Census 2011. Presently, 5,034 villages and six municipalities are included in these scheduled areas. As per the new proposal, number of villages and municipalities under the scheduled areas would increase to 5,706 and nine respectively. This decision would affect about 3.7 lakhs of population and it would be sent to the Union Government for approval.

Shri Rathore stated that as per this decision entire Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgarh districts and selected tehsils of Udaipur and Sirohi would be treated as Scheduled Area. Some border regions of Chittaurgarh, Rajasmand and Pali districts too have been included in the Scheduled Area for the first time. Population covered in the Scheduled Areas would now increase to 64,70,672 from the earlier count of 45,55,838. This decision would lead to hike in the funds received from the Union government for speedy development and better economic status of the people residing in these regions, he said.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister added that the State Cabinet further decided to merge three different agencies working for urban drinking water, sewerage and basic infrastructural development projects namely RUIFDCO, RAVIL and RUIDP to reconstitute these as the Rajasthan Urban Drinking Water, Sewerage and Infrastructure Corporation (RUDWSIC). With this, all infrastructural and developmental works would be operated through a single corporation leading to speedy and efficient completion of works. The state government’s Local Self Governance Department would be the nodal department for this corporation.

Shri Rathore stated that the Cabinet further decided to hike the fix payment of newly appointed probationers in the state by 20% from September 1, 2014. This would benefit about one lakh probationers. This decision would put a burden of Rs. 103 crore annually on the state exchequer.

He said that it was also decided to change the name of Government College, Ajmer to Samarat Prithviraj Chauhan Government College, Ajmer. The State Excise Laboratory (State and Subordinate Services) Rules 2014 too were approved at the meeting. This would lead to better opportunities for promotion. The State Cabinet also gave approval for up-gradation of different posts in Rajasthan Public Service Commission including Research Assistant to Evaluation Officer; of Additional Librarian to Senior Librarian; and of Cataloger to Assistant Librarian.