representative image Patna:The state Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal that will require the district administration to provide Rs 1 lakh to each eligible homeless family to purchase a house. land From private landowners, or “ryots”.
The decision comes as the district administration is facing challenges in convincing private landowners to sell their land at below market rates to use it as homestead land for landless families.
In another decision, the Cabinet approved the Finance Department’s proposal to increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees by 3%, effective July 1.
DA, earlier fixed at 50% in line with the recommendations of the Revised Seventh Pay Commission, will now be 53%, reflecting the recent increase made by the Central Government.
With regard to homestead land, the district administration has reported that private land owners are not willing to sell at the official minimum value rate (MVR) or circle rate, which is below the market price. Under the current policy, if government land is unavailable for allotment, the district administration should try to purchase private land in the MVR.
However, due to opposition from land owners, the government has decided to provide Rs 1 lakh to each landless family to directly purchase land under a scheme named after the Chief Minister. This proposal got cabinet approval on Thursday.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Department of Rural Affairs to implement the Rural Road Strengthening and Management Programme.
Under this policy, all rural roads will be classified for reconstruction, strengthening, upgrading and renovation with a seven-year maintenance plan. During this period, the pitched sections will be revived twice to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and support economic growth in rural areas.
The Cabinet has approved Rs 814 crore for the construction of an elevated road or bund-to-bund bridge on the Bagmati River. Bihar State Highway Project-IV. A part of these funds will also support the construction of major and minor bridges on NH-57 covering the stretches at Gadha, Hathori, Atrar, Bawangama and Aurai.
An additional Rs 46 crore was sanctioned for the construction of a 720-seat Dr. BR Ambedkar Residential School in Dev Block, Aurangabad. The Cabinet also approved Rs 102 crore as annual expenditure to operate nine Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 11 skill development centers set up with central assistance.
The funding will also cover new ITIs planned by the state government in left-extremism affected districts, including Aurangabad.
The Cabinet also approved increase in monetary award for police personnel awarded gallantry awards as well as increase in compensation to be paid to their next of kin in case of their death. This proposal was presented by the Home Department.
