Cabinet okays compensation for flood-hit farmers, reward policy to catch criminals

Chandigarh: The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved a one-time "humanitarian compensation" for flood-hit farmers cultivating govt land, extended the OTS scheme for govt depts and PSUs until June 30, and cleared a reward policy to intensify action against wanted criminals. Also, 361 staff nurse posts will be revived, with Covid volunteers receiving age relaxation and additional marks in recruitment.COMPENSATION FOR FLOOD-HIT FARMERSThe cabinet approved payment of compensation to farmers who have been cultivating govt lands for crop damage caused by floods during monsoon 2025. As per the decision, farmers whose crop damage was assessed during the special girdawari of 2025 but who were not granted compensation because their girdawari had been changed in favour of the govt pursuant to directions of the high court and the state govt's letter dated Sept 25, 2015, will now be given compensation. This will be implemented as a one-time measure on humanitarian grounds and will not confer proprietary rights in any manner.Accordingly, wherever the person recorded in the khasra girdawari prior to Sept 25, 2015 is still cultivating the land, or their legal heirs are cultivating it, compensation will be disbursed to that person or the legal heirs, as the case may be. In cases where there is a change in possession not in consonance with the revenue records of the year 2015, no compensation will be granted. A committee comprising the sarpanch, nambardar, and patwari will verify the status and submit a report for disbursement of compensation to eligible farmers.REWARD POLICY TO CATCH WANTED CRIMINALSThe cabinet also approved a revised reward policy for the arrest of wanted criminals. This move aims to institutionalise a transparent and systematic mechanism for granting rewards, thereby motivating informers and recognising the efforts of law enforcement personnel in apprehending wanted criminals. The sanctioning powers under various slabs have been vested with SSPs, CPs, the DGP, and other competent officers, said the spokesperson.TWO MORE VCS IN PLANNING BOARDThe cabinet also approved the creation of two additional posts of vice-chairpersons in the Economic Policy and Planning Board. Consequently, the number of vice-chairpersons in the board will increase from the existing 3 to 5. This will enable sector-specific focus, improved monitoring of schemes, better coordination with departments and district planning committees, and faster decision-making, said the spokesperson.CABINET EXTENDS OTS SCHEME UNTIL JUNE 30The cabinet also approved the extension of the validity of the OTS scheme notified on March 13, 2025 until June 30, 2026. This extension would apply only to plots allotted to govt depts/PSUs and to allottees who submitted appeals for restoration of plots under the policy and were eligible to settle their dues under the OTS scheme, and whose plots were restored by the board of directors of PSIEC.COVID VOLUNTEERS TO GET AGE RELAXATION, ADDITIONAL MARKSThe cabinet also approved granting the benefit of additional marks and special relaxation in the upper age limit to Covid volunteers who worked during the pandemic in the dept of health and family welfare, as well as to employees working on a contractual/outsource basis under the dept, against vacant posts of Group-C and Group-D. This benefit will be applicable in direct recruitment during the current year up to Dec 31, 2026, treating the services rendered during the Covid pandemic as relevant experience.361 STAFF NURSE POSTSThe cabinet also approved the revival and filling of 361 vacant posts of staff nurses (Group-C) in the dept of health and family welfare. These include 224 posts that were lying vacant for more than one year and 137 posts that were vacant for less than one year. These posts will be filled through Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, by taking them out of the purview of the Punjab Subordinate Staff Selection Board.