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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
In poll mode, Bihar Cabinet approves pension hike, wedding halls, subsidised food
In Assembly election-bound Bihar, the government on Tuesday announced a slew of new measures, including community wedding halls in each panchayat, subsidised eateries in each block, and financial assistance to women entrepreneurs from poor families. 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. ... Read More
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Bihar cabinet approves ₹4,026 crore marriage hall scheme in all gram panchayats
The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) approved the construction of marriage halls under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Mandap Yojana across all 8,053 gram panchayats of the State, with an estimated outlay of ₹4,026 crore. 'The marriage hall will be constructed by gram panchayats at a cost of ₹50 lakh each. It will be executed in a phased manner over a period of five years beginning this financial year,' Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said at a post-cabinet media briefing in Patna. The halls are intended to facilitate social and cultural events in rural areas, thereby supporting community cohesion and financial self-sufficiency at the village level. 'It will be run and maintained by village-level organisations,' Mr. Meena said. In another key decision, the cabinet approved the Rural Development Department's proposal to operationalise Jeevika Didi Ki Rasoi units at block-level offices, as well as at sub-divisional and district headquarters. 'Visitors from remote areas will be able to access affordable meals, and the initiative will provide livelihood opportunities for women associated with the Jeevika scheme,' Mr. Meena added. The Health Department's proposal to launch Didi Ki Rasoi at government medical colleges and hospitals was also approved. The meals will be made available at a subsidised rate of ₹20 per plate, Development Commissioner Pratyaya Amrit said. The scheme will be rolled out in a phased manner starting July 1, at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. The cabinet further cleared a proposal to form a committee under Mr. Amrit's chairmanship to devise criteria for the disbursement of ₹2 lakh to women entrepreneurs from among the 94 lakh families identified as poor in the caste-based survey. Bihar has a total of 2.76 crore families. The State also announced an increase in social security pensions under schemes for old age, disability, and widow beneficiaries. As per the decision, the monthly pension amount will be raised from ₹400 to ₹1,100, benefitting around 1.11 crore people. 'This would put an additional burden of ₹9,202 crore on the State exchequer,' Mr. Meena said. In another administrative reform, the cabinet doubled the expenditure limit that gram panchayats can approve under MGNREGA from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. The State Government also approved a 1.5-fold increase in allowances for elected representatives in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system and members of the Gram Kutchery. In a welfare measure, the cabinet sanctioned ₹5 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of panchayat and Gram Kutchery members in case of normal death during their tenure. The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, cleared a total of 46 proposals during the meeting.
