The State Cabinet here on Friday decided to give a grant of Rs 2 lakh to the urban poor while endorsing implementation of Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana in Madhya Pradesh.
The grant to be provided by the State Government under the scheme will be in addition to the Rs 1.50 lakh grant provisioned for the urban poor under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana. For the urban poor not living in slums, the State Government will give a grant of Rs 1 lakh in addition to the Rs 1.50 lakh grant provisioned for the urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana to construct their houses. It is noteworthy that a target has been set to provide own houses to all urban poor by year 2022.
The Cabinet decided to increase dearness allowance by 6 per cent for about 10 lakh State Government servants including 8 lakh Government servants and about 2 lakh pensioners with effect from July 1, 2015.
The Cabinet decided to continue process of zero percent interest on loans being provided to farmers by primary agriculture credit cooperative societies for the remaining period of current fiscal ending March 31, 2016.
The Cabinet extended the first and second installment dates of deposit of principal loan by farmers under lump sum settlement scheme. Now, farmers will enjoy the facility to deposit the first installment by December 31 instead of September 31 and second installment by March 31, 2016 instead of January 31, 2015. The date to deposit the third installment will remain same as June 30, 2016.
The Cabinet accorded conditional permission for plantation to Forest Development Corporation on the basis of share in forest produced in the forest sections given under management of Village Forest Societies with their consent. Plantation of mid-term ripening species will also be included in the conditions along with long-term species. Bamboo has been included in short-term species and teak and Khamar in mid-term species. The Village Forest Societies will have 40 percent share in short term and 20 per cent share in profit from mid and long-term species.
The societies can dispose of produce of their share at current market rates through the corporation. Forest areas mentioned in forest agreement will be managed by the corporation. Societies will be provided share in forest produce in proportion to their contribution. Grass near forest section will be available free of cost to societies for Nistar. On Re. 1 token annual lease rent will be payable to the State Government for forest area mentioned in forest agreement. Before plantation, 20 per cent net revenue from exploitation will be given to the Village Forest Societies and the remaining to the State Government.