The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Government seems to have buckled under the compulsion of coalition politics as the State Cabinet after dragging its feet for months finally agreed to consider the proposed para-teacher’s honorarium increment.
Although the Cabinet in principle agreed on increasing honorarium it left the quantum to be decided by a committee headed Chief Secretary RS Sharma. The committee besides deciding the quantum of increment will also review financial impact of the increase. Notably, the review process will also include Union Government’s representatives on Sarv Siksha Abhiyan and other officials of the department.
Incidentally, Human Resource Development Minister Geetashree Oraon has been pushing for the increment from last couple of months. The proposal was languishing with the department of Planning & Development incidentally headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Besides, the cabinet meeting of December 14 also paved the way for grants to as many as 592 Madarsas in the State. The madarsas to avail grant will need to furnish certificate from the concerned Circle Officer mentioning that it does not violates tenancy Acts and is not encroaching Government land to become entitled for the grant. The madarsas also needs to prove ownership of land being used for the madarsa.
The Cabinet also amended Jharkhand Value Added Tax 2005 and gave municipal bodies the right of assessment, collection and recovery of property tax under Jharkhand Property Tax (Assessment, Collection & Recovery) Rules 2013.