In poll mode, Bihar Cabinet approves pension hike, wedding halls, subsidised food
The decisions were announced following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Last week, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had announced a hike in social security pension from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 per month for 1.11 crore beneficiaries, including the elderly, disabled and widows. This proposal also got the Cabinet's approval on Tuesday.
As per the announcements, wedding halls under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana will be constructed in all 8,053 gram panchayats of the state at a cost of Rs 50 lakh each. Rs 4,026 crore will be spent on this in different phases over five years.
The Cabinet also approved the Rural Development Department's proposal to run Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi at block-level offices. The Didi Ki Rasoi will provide food at a subsidised rate of Rs 20 per plate at block-cum-circle offices, sub-divisional and district-level offices, as well as government medical colleges and hospitals.
Also cleared was the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of the Development Commissioner to find ways and criteria for the disbursal of Rs 2 lakh to women entrepreneurs from 94 lakh poor families.
The Cabinet also approved enhancing bank loans for Jeevika from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh at an annual interest rate of 7%. The state government will reimburse any interest beyond this rate.
A proposal allowing gram panchayats to take up works up to Rs 10 lakh under MGNREGA, against the earlier limit of Rs 5 lakh, was also cleared.
The Cabinet also approved giving Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of members of the three-tier Panchayat Raj system in case of their death during their tenure.
Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
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