Under pressure from the coalition partners, the State Cabinet on Saturday approved to create five new sub-divisions in the State besides giving its nod to compensate a family of a victim from the earnings of the prisoner responsible for the person’s death. The State Government put its seal on 21 decisions during the Cabinet meeting.
According to the proposal, additional sub-divisions in Giridih, Chatra and Gumla districts will be created. As per the Cabinet’s nod, Khori-mahua and Dumri under Giridih district, Simaria under Chatra district besides Chainpur and Basia under Gumla districts are going to be the new sub-divisions in the State. The sub-divisions have been carved out after a proposal in this regard was raised by the political parties over a period of time.
The new sub-divisions have been created on the grounds of providing better administration in the respective districts, but the fact remains that it will put unnecessary burden on the State exchequer.
Significantly, the State Government also given a green signal to compensate a victim’s family from the earnings made by the perpetrator while serving a term in the prison. As per the decision taken by the Cabinet, around one-third of the earnings made by a serving prisoner will be given to the affected family. Notably, wages to a prisoner is divided in three slabs of `14, `28 and `46 to unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled prisoners correspondingly.
The State Government also decided to commence the Budget Session of the Assembly from February 19 which will continue till March 7.
Interestingly, in a bid to reduce dependence on MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) to provide jobs to unemployed people, the State Government decided to encourage plantation on forest,barren or unused lands by interested people and will also provide financial assistance to such projects. According to the Cabinet’s decision, around 41.9 hectares will be earmarked for plantation projects that include cultivation of lac besides other commercially useful plants. The project will be monitored by a team that will be headed by the Development Commissioner.
Incidentally, the novel idea of allowing unclaimed lands in the Government’s possession is touted to counter the problem usually faced in MNREGA, which is not considered as a sustainable form of development. The idea of allowing plantation on unclaimed or forest land is also said to help in asset creation which otherwise is not what the MNREGA intends.
Among other decisions that the Cabinet has given its approval for include construction of roads in Dumka district and hike in daily allowances paid to a home guard jawan. The daily allowance for a home guard jawan has been increased by Rs 100 thus taking it to Rs 300 for a day’s duty.