Environment-friendly e-rickshaw gets Cabinet nod

Battery-operated e-rickshaws are set to give way to the manually pulled tricycle which would not only cut carbon emission but also improve living standard of the people involved. The Cabinet has decided to form a committee in this regard that would select the beneficiaries from the existing rickshaw pullers.

“The Cabinet has okayed ‘rickshaw chalak garima scheme’ that plans to make available battery-operated e-rickshaws to the existing rickshaw pullers. It is also aimed to improve living standard and their economic wellbeing as well as safeguard environment and provide speedy commutation system at local level,” said Cabinet Secretary NN Pandey on Tuesday after the meeting.

A five-member committee comprising CEO of Municipal Corporation, DTO, Chief Engineer of the corporation or anyone nominated by them along with representative of the rickshaw pullers’ association would select the beneficiaries for the scheme who should have at least three years of experience. The Government has made provision of Rs 6.6 crore for the purpose in the Budget.

The Cabinet also approved the Chief Minister Scheduled Tribe Village Development Scheme. The scheme would facilitate overall development of total 5755 villages in five years. “The villages selected under it would be inhabited by more than 80 per cent tribal population. It would take five years to develop all the 5755 villages in serial manner,” added Pandey.

During 2015-16, total 1000 such villages would be taken up under the scheme whereas 1200 villages would be selected for the three consecutive years. In the last year of the scheme i.e. 2019-20, all the remaining 1155 tribal villages would be incorporated.

The scheme would see selection of Women SHGs by the Gram Sabha which would be given Rs 1 lakh as grant. Besides, hosts of welfare schemes would be made available to the villages. Five 10 passed unemployed youths would be provided assistance of Rs 2 lakh for self-employment in every village.

“The scheme would be monitored by apex committee headed by the Chief Minister in which the Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and Secretaries of Planning, Finance, Health and Welfare would be members. The committee would meet at least once in six months. Another Executive Committee headed by Development Commissioner would monitor and assess the steps taken. DCs would head district level committees,” said the Cabinet Secretary.

District-level ST Development Council headed by respective DC has also been formed in which local MPs, MlAs, Manki Munda, two tribal specialists and educationalist would be the members. Purpose of the Council would be to monitor and submit reports about running tribal welfare schemes and construction works for schools, hostels, Eklavya Schools, Asharm Schools etc to the Government. 

The Cabinet, at the same time, also announced fillips for school students. For the Financial Year 2015-16, JREDA has been granted with Rs 32 crore for providing solar lED lamps to class 10 students belonging to SC, ST and OBC. The grant is out of the allocated budget of Rs 80 crore announced in the budget for the purpose. About 3.2 lakh students, including of KGBV and those residing in hostels would be given the lamps which would cost Rs 1000 for each unit, informed the Secretary.  Also, 49.45 lakh students of class 1-8 in Government schools would be given school bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, sharpeners and instrument boxes under the ‘free school kit scheme’. 

Jharkhand Project Education Council (JEPC) has been given grant of Rs 310 crore for the FY 2015-16 for the purpose. Unit cost of the kit for class 1-5 student is Rs 590 and Rs 715 for class 6-8 in which 34.83 lakh and 14.62 lakh students are enrolled, respectively. 50 per cent attendance in schools has been made mandatory for availing the benefit.

The Cabinet also approved the configuration of the Search Committee for appointing CMD, MDs and Directors of the four power companies, which came into existence following the unbundling of the erstwhile JSEB. The Chief Secretary would head the Committee and Development Commissioner along with Secretaries of Power, Finance and Personnel would chip in as members. The appointment would be made first for three years which could be extended up to five years or 65 years of age, whichever is later.   

JPSC, through as Ordinance, has been given extension in its responsibilities. The apex personnel selection body of the State can now take exams or recommend for promotion of the various staffs of urban municipal corporations, municipal bodies, its commissioners, teaching staffs in universities etc. At present the JPSC involves itself into about 13 State services.