In order to boost its internal security, the Cabinet has decided to constitute three new battalions of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) each carrying 1007 forces. In total, the battalions would get 3021 men in uniform as paramilitary, 25 per cent of that would necessarily be deployed in anti-Naxal operations in the State.
Informing about this, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) NN Pandey said that the battalions would be forced as per the standards of the Ministry of Home Affairs. “The Cabinet has decided to raise three new IRB battalions in the State as per the standards of the GoI. It has also been decided that 25 per cent of the 3021 personnel would be designated as special task force for the disturbed areas,” said the official on Tuesday.
This apart, the Cabinet on the special instructions of Chief Minister Raghubar Das has approved formation of Civil Defense Volunteers in 19 more districts along with Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Bokaro. 100 volunteers would be roped in every district and would be given five sessions of training for six days each.
“The volunteers would be trained in such a manner that they can handle law and order issues arising at local level. They would be paid Rs 250 for each training day and the same amount would be paid for each day of service,” said Pandey. Districts such as Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Giridih, Koderma, Chatra, Dumka, Deoghar, Pakur, Palamu, latehar, Garhwa, Gumla, lohardaga, Simdega, West Singhbhum, Kunti, Seraikela, Jamtara would be covered.
Under SSA and Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan, the Government has also decided to upgrade 280 high schools as +2 schools at the cost of Rs 280 crore. “The policy is to provide a primary school at every kilometer, a higher secondary school at every two kilometers, one high school at every five kilometers and +2 school at 7-8 kilometers. The decision has taken in that regard,” said the official.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to provide additional Rs 130 for each quintal of paddy procured by the State during this kharif procurement season. The rate for paddy has been fixed at Rs 1470 by the Centre and the additional cost coming on that would be borne by the State Government. Rs 52 crore has been sanctioned for this purpose.
In another important decision, the Cabinet has decided to extend medical insurance to journalists working in the State. The person along with spouse and two children would get the benefits of insurance in case of accidents and critical illness costing maximum Rs 5 lakh. In the first phase, 2000 scribes and their families would get facility for cashless treatments in the hospitals impaneled while in other hospital they would get reimbursement from the company. Rs one crore has been sanctioned for this purpose.
“The Cabinet also okayed completion of water supply project at Panki at the cost of Rs 99.80 crore which was originally estimated at Rs 84.22 crore. Since no contractor was turning up due to difficulties in this area, the proposal of the single bidder M/s SMS Paryavaran ltd has been accepted at the cost that acceded 18.49 per cent than the original estimate,” said Pandey.
Acting on the recently passed Bihar and Odisha Public Demand Recovery Act, the Government approved appointments of retired personnel as certificate officers. The officers would be appointed by DCs at the recommendations of the Divisional Commissioners in each district and the banks would bear the cost coming onto them.
Another recently passed Bill for amending Panchayati Raj has also been approved de-facto by the Cabinet that paves way for the Government for nominating one local expert in each gram panchayat.
Tenure of the person would be as per the wishes of the Government and can be scrapped anytime.
