16-05-2025
Cabinet renames Gaya as ‘Gaya Ji',OKs Rs50L ex gratia for martyrs' kin
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Patna: In two major decisions on Friday, the state cabinet approved the renaming of Gaya town to
Gaya Ji
and sanctioned an ex gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh to the next of kin of armed forces and central armed police personnel martyred in
Operation Sindoor
.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, additional chief secretary (ACS) S Siddharth said the home department's proposal for ex gratia payment was cleared as a standalone scheme. "The amount will be paid to the families of personnel who gave their supreme sacrifice in Operation Sindoor," he said.
Explaining the decision to rename Gaya, the ACS said it was taken in view of the city's historic and religious importance.
The cabinet also approved a hike in dearness allowance (DA) for state govt employees and pensioners. Those receiving revised pay under the 7th Pay Commission will get a 2% hike, taking their DA from 53% to 55%. For those under the 6th Pay Commission, the DA was increased from 246% to 252, while those under the 5th Pay Commission will now receive 466%, up from 455%.
The cabinet gave its nod to the formation of the Bihar State Jeevika Fund Credit Cooperative Society Ltd, Patna, under the Bihar Cooperative Societies Act, 1935. This move will facilitate the launch of the "
Jeevika Bank
" to provide loans to members of self-help groups.
More than 50 lakh women are currently associated with nearly 11 lakh self-help groups under the Jeevika programme across the state. The rural development department's proposal to assign cleanliness responsibilities of block-cum-circle offices to Jeevika was also approved.
The cabinet sanctioned the construction of new Panchayat Sarkar Bhawans at a cost of Rs 2,784 crore. Each building will also house a Sudha milk parlour.
It also approved the health department's proposal to establish a Bihar Cancer Care and Research Society, which will focus on both cancer treatment and research.
A proposal for the construction of a multi-storey complex on the Patna high court premises was cleared. The project will include administrative and IT blocks, an auditorium, ADR building and multi-level car parking.
In a commemorative move, the cabinet decided to celebrate Jan 5, the birth anniversary of former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, as a state function every year.
The cabinet also cleared the minority affairs department's plan to construct 560-bed minority residential schools in Bhagalpur, Araria and Gopalganj, at a cost of Rs 169 crore.
An approval was granted for the construction of 45 new anganwadi centres in 12 districts and 104 new power substations under North and South Bihar power distribution companies. The cabinet also empowered panchayat secretaries in rural areas to issue birth and death certificates.
The cabinet approved the implementation of the World Bank-assisted Bihar Water Security and Irrigation Modernisation Project, which will require an investment of Rs 4,415 crore. Of this amount, the World Bank will contribute 70%, amounting to Rs 3,090 crore while the remaining 30%, or Rs 1,324 crore, will be borne by the state govt.
Altogether 69 decisions were approved in the meeting.
